University shares background about KKK issues

May 21, 2004

Dear Colleagues:

The university has been contacted by several members of the campus community offering comments or requesting clarification of the steps taken in response to two individuals who were found on campus at night putting Ku Klux Klan literature in inappropriate places. These calls were prompted by recent media coverage and an editorial on the subject.

As background, for a number of years, it has been standard practice for the student life office to follow up on police reports about individuals who are found on campus with no legitimate business. The reports might relate to violation of policy, loitering, drunkenness or other factors. The letters are sent in the interest of campus safety and security.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on April 28, the campus public safety department received a report about two individuals putting “insensitive material” on campus kiosks. The kiosks were traditionally available for any on– or off–campus individuals to post information, and the university has taken the position that it should not and cannot regulate what goes on those kiosks by its content. When DPS arrived, however, these individuals were observed near a building where there is no kiosk nearby and were also seen attempting to attach information to a campus map. The individuals were questioned and told to leave.

Last week, per a long-standing process — one that was followed 95 times during 2003 alone — the two individuals received a letter declaring them “persona non grata,” meaning that they may not be on campus or at university–sponsored events until further notice. Unfortunately, the wording of this letter created confusion by implying that they were being sanctioned for the content of the fliers. The university is sending a clarifying follow–up letter stating that these steps were taken because of the behavior of these individuals rather than their message. The university continues to disagree strongly with the message in the fliers.

University officials have also received questions (and many compliments) about the removal of the kiosks at the end of the academic year. The kiosks, which have been on campus since the 1970s, have generated numerous complaints over the years as being eyesores and litter magnets; they have also been the repeated source of conflict when groups tear down, deface or cover someone else’s material. Since there are a variety of other ways to communicate with students, and since U of L is not obligated to provide posting space to individuals who are not affiliated with the university, university representatives decided that on–going problems with the kiosks outweighed their value. Were the kiosks taken down solely because the Klan wanted to use them to target our students and staff? No. But because the kiosks have become a venue to attract individuals to campus who have no other reason to be here — one more issue among many associated with the kiosks — it was in the best interests of the campus community to remove them.

This still does not mean, however, that the university can or should prevent individuals or organizations, even those with messages that don’t support its values, from being on campus. A committee that reviewed U of L’s leafleting practices acknowledged that the university must protect freedom of expression at the same time it “encourages and supports the building of a respectful, civil and diverse community.” For these reasons, the community developed new procedures governing the use of two “free speech zones” on campus. Outside individuals and groups must now register 48 hours in advance, allowing U of L time to address potential security and other issues. No more than five members of a group may pass out literature at any one time, and no more than two may speak publicly. These procedures have been approved and will be placed on a Web site shortly.

The removal of the kiosks and changes in the leafleting procedures are designed to help U of L better manage its borderless campus and enhance security. The changes were not made solely to help manage issues with the KKK. Instead, issues with the KKK have caused the university to examine all of its practices and procedures in order to make changes that will be applied uniformly to all groups in the future. The long–term goal is to ensure that U of L allows for free speech, respects the diversity of the university community, and takes every appropriate and reasonable step to ensure the safety of campus.