From The Austin American-Statesman: Last fall, two students at the University of Texas were warned that they wouldn't be able to register for classes if they didn't remove Barack Obama campaign signs from the window of their residence hall room. They refused to take down the signs, but the punishment was never carried out. Instead, University President William Powers Jr. suspended a long-standing rule that had barred all types of signs from campus housing. Powers now has made the suspension permanent, following a recommendation by a committee of faculty members, students and administrators. He also approved the panel's proposed guidelines on window postings that encourage students to avoid "gratuitously offensive expression" but stop short of prohibiting it.
FROM OCTOBER 2008: The University of Texas at Austin has reversed itselft and will allow students to put up political signs in their residence hall windows. Last week, two students were barred from registering for classes after refusing to remove their political signs. All disciplinary action resulting from enforcing the ban will also be lifted, officials say.
To read The Dallas Morning News article, click here.
