ASU administrators won't stop students from hanging up a Bob Marley poster in residence halls, but they hope students will think twice about it.
After nearly being sued in 2004 for forbidding political signs in windows, Residential Life is enacting a new protocol this semester in an effort to ease concerns about freedom of speech in the residence halls.
The protocol states students are free to post any material on their doors and outside windows, unless someone complains.
"I would not characterize this as a new policy. I would say that this protocol is a new approach," said Nancy Tribbensee, of the Office of General Counsel.
If a complaint is filed, the residence hall will initially try to distance itself from the speech by posting materials that present a different view. If the situation cannot be resolved, ASU's Office of General Counsel and Campus Environment Team will be consulted and decide whether the item must be taken down.
It was important that the new protocol not try to outline what could and could not be posted, Tribbensee said.
"[The protocol] does encourage students to keep in mind the community context, but it does not provide for any prior restraint on speech," she added.
Tribbensee said she hopes the protocol will allow for more discussion if a complaint does arise.
"I hope that it will provide a roadmap for responding to concerns raised about speech, and that it will support an environment that tolerates diverse expression," she said.
The protocol was enacted in response to an incident that took place in fall 2004 when two residents -- political science and history junior Laura Thorson and biology junior Hayley Ivins -- were reprimanded for hanging political signs in their window.
Thorson, who is currently a State Press columnist, and Ivins, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, fought the policy and threatened to sue the University. But the lawsuit was later dropped after the University established a student-led committee to form the new protocol.
The committee consisted of representatives from the ACLU, ResLife, Residence Hall Association, the Campus Environment Team and the University.
Thorson, who was a member of the committee, said she was happy with the way the protocol ultimately turned out.
"I think it's a good policy; it's a great benefit that it doesn't have any prior restraints," she said. "It shows ASU is more open to having freedom of expression."
Residence Hall Association Director Hanna Ricketson worked on the committee with Thorson.
She said the issue became so much work that a specific adhoc committee was designed within RHA to deal with all of the concerns.
"It was a lot of work just trying to make all of the parties happy," she said. "There were so many people involved it became difficult."
RHA did vote to approve the new protocol, although there were some reservations, Ricketson said.
"If it doesn't work perfectly, we can always revise it," she said. "Free speech is such a gray area, and the policy reflects that."
Economics freshman Kyle Whitman received a copy of the new protocol when he moved back into his hall after winter break.
Whitman said he agreed with the protocol because it leaves plenty of room for freedom of expression.
But if something is found to be offensive, it's the University's right to have it taken down, he said.
"There are other ways to show freedom of expression than just putting posters on the wall," he said.
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
