An ASU ban of a local radio station on all shuttle bus lines is taking flack: being called unconstitutional and a violation of free speech.
Following complaints by one student, ASU officials asked Coach America, who is contracted to run the bus service, to temporarily ban bus drivers from playing News/Talk 92.3 KTAR-FM, said George Gravley, a spokesman for the company.
In October, a student complained about hearing the station on the bus, he said. Then, last week, the same student complained again, he added, spurring requests from University officials to ban the station or kill the radio altogether.
"The University transportation department called us on Thursday and informed us of their decision," Gravley said. "We will turn the radios off until the University creates a policy that will be uniform for all busses, all the time."
University officials were unavailable to comment by deadline Sunday.
A Thursday memo to bus drivers from Fred Seibel, Coach America director of operations, said KTAR "has been deemed to be offensive and distasteful."
"While on duty, only a very generic station should be aired or, ideally, the radio need not be played at all," the note reads.
But Gravley said Seibel was simply relaying the wishes of ASU Parking and Transit Services authorities. As a contacted company, they simply follow ASU orders, he said. But he added that he's never come across a ban like this before.
Russ Hill, KTAR director of programming, said he was surprised by the ban, especially since some station staffers work for ASU, too, and KTAR often airs ASU sports.
"We've got a great relationship with ASU," Hill said. "Once those who review these kinds of decisions get the information on their desks, they'll understand how unconstitutional and wrong it is and revise this ban."
Hill said he heard that the student was offended by comments from conservative talk-show host Darrell Ankarlo, but Gravley said he didn't know the student's specific complaint. Ankarlo supporters will protest the decision at ASU Lot 59-North Monday.
Hill said the decision was rushed and should be swiftly withdrawn.
"For a campus that bears the name of Walter Cronkite on one of its superior academic institutions, it is ironic to learn the free speech rights he and so many journalists have fought for [will] now be limited," Hill said in a press release.
Reach the reporter at: daniel.newhauser@asu.edu.
