Programs Finance Committee to students: “free speech is bad for you”
In a decision made when the largest, most-read and most-frequently published supporter of free speech on campus, the Ol’ Dirty Emerald, is conveniently on vacation, the ASUO Programs Finance Committee rejected the Oregon Commentator’s mission statement, declaring our little rag not to be “advantageous to the cultural or physical development of students.”
The decision is based on unspecified “material” in “several” issues. (At least) two problems with this:
1) Can the PFC declare an entire journalistic enterprise not advantageous to the cultural development of students based on a small amount of objectionable material?
2) Does the PFC realize that its finding regarding that objectionable material might just raise a few problems under the First Amendment? Perhaps we should publish a copy of Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia and see if they find that culturally advantageous.
Decision as follows:
“I am sorry to inform you that we did not approve your mission and goals, due to the fact that several of your issues contain material that is in violation with Oregon State Statute 351.070 3d that states”prescribe incidental fees for programs under the supervision or control of the board found by the board, upon its own motion or upon recommendation of the recognized student government of the institution concerned, to be advantageous to the cultural or physical development of students. Fees realized in excess of amounts allocated and exceeding required reserves shall be considered surplus incidental fees and shall be allocated for programs under the control of the board and found to be advantageous to the cultural or physical development of students by the institution president upon the recommendation of the recognized student government at the institution concerned.”Our decision was also made based on Executive rule R94.3 ASUO Recognition status that states The ASUO Executive will only grant the status of “Recognition” to programs that add to the “cultural and/or physical development of the University Community”. That status is a privilege and may be revoked if the program does not conduct itself in a manner consistent with ASUO rules, UO rules, and State law.”
