Hampton Cracks Down on Free Speech?

Seven Hampton students have been punished for participating in a nationwide demonstration calling for President Bush to be removed from office .

Aaron Ray, John Robinson and Brandon King said they thought they were adding to a legacy of student activism when they encouraged their classmates to participate in a Nationwide Student Walkout against the Bush administration and the war in Iraq.

On Friday, Nov. 18, the three organizers received a summons from the university to attend a hearing over their possible expulsion.

The students were accused of not following proper protest protocol as outlined in the Hampton handbook.

They were said to have been “cajoling” and “proselytizing,” as well as putting up fliers that had not been approved by university officials. The maximum penalty for these actions is expulsion.

The State Of . . . Hampton is off. How many of us have seen fliers to parties while we were in college that were not sanctioned by the university? Those in the AUC from 93-97, remember the infamous Warehouse flier that had a vocal minority of the Spelmanites up in arms? Why did the university choose to crack down on students obviously exercising political speech? This is the speech that is most protected by the Constitution. If you ask me, it’s the chilling effect this administration has caused to be felt by many institutions. Look at how they are siccing the IRS on churches for preaching against violence and war. None of the students were expelled but 6 were ordered to perform community service. It seems to me that they were performing a community service already.