The American Civil Liberties Union is expected to file a lawsuit this week against the University for a policy prohibiting students from hanging signs in their dorm room windows.
ACLU attorney Nick Hentoff said the policy violates freedom of speech because Residential Life continues to make changes to the policy, such as an amendment that allows students to hang unaltered American flags.
"When they have a policy that's supposed to be a content-neutral policy but then they make an exception for [unaltered] American flags, it demonstrates the facial invalidity of the policy," Hentoff said.
Hentoff said he thought the suit would be settled early in the proceedings by summary judgment if it is determined the policy directly violates the law.
"What they have is a clearly unconstitutional policy," he added.
Laura Thorson, a political science and history sophomore, and Hayley Ivins, a biology and society sophomore, two ASU students who fought the policy last semester, are joining the ACLU as plaintiffs in the case, but said they felt uncomfortable commenting on the issue until the suit has been filed.
The Residence Hall Association, a group of students that represents ASU dorm residents, decided last semester to support the policy.
RHA President Hanna Ricketson said support would continue, but the issue could be revisited if necessary.
"Our end decision was that we supported the idea of having a policy because we felt that [free speech] is such a gray area," she said.
Physics sophomore and Hayden West resident Megan Brown said she thinks the lawsuit might be extreme.
"I think the policy needs to change, but I don't know if it needs to go that far," she said.
In addition to the suit, Hentoff said a preliminary injunction that prevents the enforcement of the policy would be in place until an outcome is reached.
ASU General Counsel could not be reached for comment.
Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
