Ft. Hard Knox − Cornell University College of Engineering Staff Stifle Student Free Speech; Updated: Police Force Return of Signs; Updated: Students Defend their Story

Cornell University College of Engineering Staff Stifle Student Free Speech; Updated: Police Force Return of Signs; Updated: Students Defend their Story

Posted October 22nd, 2008 by forthardknox

UPDATE 10/24/08: We received the following today from Tristen Cramer:

CORNELL COALITION FOR LIFE STANDS BY EARLIER STATEMENT
Pro-Life Student Organization Responds to University Administration

In response to statements made by Cornell University’s administration, the Cornell Coalition for Life (CCFL) stands by their earlier press release as a fair and accurate description of the events of Wednesday, October 22.

“It is incredible that putting up signs explaining that a baby’s heart first beats 25 days after fertilization and other biological facts could lead to this situation. We are surprised and disappointed to see that the administration has decided to issue a statement denying that the staff members acted improperly instead of simply apologizing and admitting that the Elena Campaign should not have been removed in the first place,” stated Tristen Cramer, senior at Cornell and former president of CCFL.

The “Elena Campaign”, a series of educational signs detailing the biological facts of fetal development, was improperly removed by a staff member of the College of Engineering at approximately 9AM on Wednesday. Despite the fact that the president of CCFL immediately
provided proof of administrative approval for the display, the signs were not returned to the organization until an hour and a half later.

Though the staff then admitted that the proper approval was in place, the students were strongly encouraged by the Associate Dean of Administration not to resume the display because of an “unwritten policy” regarding opinionated displays on the Engineering Quad.

UPDATE 10/22/08: From Adam Kissel, of FIRE’s The Torch:

Thanks to a quick-thinking administrator outside the College of Engineering and to the Cornell Police, the violation of the students’ expression rights lasted scarcely two hours. But who knows how long Warren and Dove would have held out if the police had not come to enforce the students’ rights.

ORIGINAL POST 10/22/08: Facilities Staff Remove Previously Approved Pro-Life Display

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We received the following from Tristen Cramer, a senior at Cornell University:

Less than one hour after the Cornell Coalition for Life (CCFL) set up their “Elena Campaign” signs in the Engineering Quad, the signs were abruptly removed by Dawn Warren, an administrative assistant, and taken to the Facilities Office of the College of Engineering. The “Elena Campaign” is a series of light-hearted educational signs with pictures and text detailing the biological development of an unborn child. Though CCFL had gone through the proper administrative avenues to get approval for the display, Warren removed the signs without permission because she did not personally approve of the content.

Tristen Cramer, senior at Cornell University and former president of CCFL stated:

“It borders on the absurd that the facilities staff at the College of Engineering finds photos depicting biological fetal development to be controversial or offensive. Furthermore, it speaks volumes that this member of the Cornell staff chose to censor speech she disagreed with rather than facilitating an open discussion about the issue.

“The Cornell community should be aware that our right to free speech regarding relevant current issues is hindered by this so-called ‘unwritten policy.’”

Together, Dawn Warren and Cathy Dove, Associate Dean for Administration in the College of Engineering, attempted to prevent members of CCFL from retrieving the signs. Only when the Cornell Police were brought in did Warren and Dove relinquish the property. Even then, Dove tried to intimidate the students and requested that the signs not be put up again, referencing an “unwritten policy” among the College of Engineering to prevent “opinionated displays.”

Katherine Weible, junior at Cornell University and current president of the CCFL said,

“As an engineering student, I am surprised and disappointed that some of our staff would censor the issues that we are exposed to. In their claims that all engineering displays must be engineering related, they are severely short-changing all engineering students.”