University bans political e-mails
Officials at Grambling State University in Grambling, La., have dispatched an e-mail to students warning them against forwarding certain political e-mails they may get on the school e-mail system, because they could violate “state policy.”
The issue is being highlighted by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which monitors educational institutions for violations of civil rights.
“As the national dialogue increasingly focuses on the upcoming elections, administrators at Grambling State have made the unconstitutional decision to shut down the conversation on campus,” said Robert Shibley, the organization’s senior vice president.
“The First Amendment protects such core political expression, and as a public university, GSU cannot lawfully prevent students and faculty from speaking their minds about the electoral choices facing our country,” he said.
Yes, of course they have the right to converse. No one is saying they can't. The point is that the government-funded campus email system was intended for intra-campus, university-related communications–not for the advancement of political agendas. If someone receives an email from a university (or corporate) domain (e.g. "@gsu.edu"), especially if it's a forwarded forward, recipients down the road don't know if "jsmith@gsu.edu" is a student, professor, or administrator. Regardless, it can have a negative connotation to an organization. The fact remains that the email system belongs to the university and they can make the rules. If users don't like it, USE GMAIL! This issue is akin to a corporate email system: corporations generally have strict policies regarding email content. I know if I sent an inappropriate email at work I'd get the boot that day. I don't see how this is any different.
Yes, of course they have the right to converse. No one is saying they can't. The point is that the government-funded campus email system was intended for intra-campus, university-related communications–not for the advancement of political agendas. If someone receives an email from a university (or corporate) domain (e.g. "@gsu.edu"), especially if it's a forwarded forward, recipients down the road don't know if "jsmith@gsu.edu" is a student, professor, or administrator. Regardless, it can have a negative connotation to an organization. The fact remains that the email system belongs to the university and they can make the rules. If users don't like it, USE GMAIL! This issue is akin to a corporate email system: corporations generally have strict policies regarding email content. I know if I sent an inappropriate email at work I'd get the boot that day. I don't see how this is any different.