Here is an article in Ka Leo regarding the status of bulletin boards at the various campuses in the UH system. As UH Hilo's own Nadine Austin states:
The University of Hawai'i at Hilo only allows campus-related items to go up on bulletin boards. "We do contact people who post without authorization to tell them that they can't do it," said Nadine Austin of UHH Auxiliary services. "Our boards are not free speech."
This policy is, of course, to insure that students are not contaminated with ideas not to the liking of radical faculty and administrators. This is not an exaggeration. DePaul University has a similar policy which was used to silence dissenters of Ward Churchill's visit and message.
Last semester the UH College Republicans and the leftist group Global Hope engaged in a bout of "dueling flyers" on the campus bulletin boards. This was harmless enough. It provided some entertainment for the college community, while the students involved were able to vent their opinions in a civilized forum. It was, however, too much real argument for the administration. One administrator threatened to revoke both groups club status over the incident.
University faculty and administrators are only in favor of "debate" and "discussion" that they control. If the venue does not allow them the ability to set the terms of the debate then they will try to silence the discussion. One way of doing this is by the control faculty "advisors" maintain over student clubs. The university controls the clubs' access to funding. They also make "suggestions" designed to control the terms of debate on campus.
What "debate" occurs in the Orwellian university world will not identify, much less criticize, liberal assumptions. An example of this at UHH was the United Nations dog and pony show last week. The real nature of the U.N. is not subject to discussion at official university venues. This annual event "celebrating" the vile U.N. has been ongoing for many years. This is not a student event. It is the agenda set by the "advisor:"
Services Provided
Faculty advisor for the International Student Association, including
United Nations Day and International Nights activities
Supervisor of the "Becoming Culturally Aware Project" (BCAP)
Instead of genuine adult debate on the nature and purpose of the U.N., students receive in the latest issue of the UHH student paper Ka Kalahea, a photo spread of the event gushing about the joys of bagpipes and ethnic foods. The "news" story is available here in pdf format.
Unfortunately for the UHH thought police, it is a state university supported almost entirely by tax dollars. If the administration attempts to enforce their anti-free speech bulletin board policy upon a litigious student the results are sure to be interesting.
Hat tip: Doug
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