The "All Clear"

My email to Diana Natalicio, President of the University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP speech and expression policies provide authorized alternatives to the sign posted outside Mr. Smith-Soto's classroom, which inarguably can discourage the lawful exercise of rights by students who fear the potential academic impacts of teacher bias. Political preference signs that contravene duly enacted law and create a hostile and discriminatory environment fall afoul of UTEP policies. If you allow that in this instance, you open the door to other personnel posting signs that different individuals and groups may regard as harassment.

Case in point: Would you remain silent if a Christian professor posted a "No same sex marriages" sign outside his classroom?

Whether you oppose or support a given issue is irrelevant. What takes precedence is equal application of policy. When that does not exist, enforcement becomes problematic, as giving one employee a pass will create a discrimination liability for UTEP if another is disciplined over a violation.

Her reply:

Thanks for sharing your perspectives, which I have forwarded to the UTEP Campus Carry Task Force.

Far be it from me to argue with a Higher Education Visionary. I guess that means anybody and everybody on campus now has the official green light to post whatever they like wherever they like, which is pretty much the way things ought to be at public universities.