More on the UMD-MGA Porn Wars 11/09

A recent University of Maryland-College Park graduate commented on our post regarding the renegging of the Board of Regents on their commitment to halt taxpayer dollars from subsidizing porn flicks on campus.

The "free speech" argument does not hold water when you consider the many other ways UMD's policies place restrictions on their students - as offered by this alumni:

"As an alumnus and patron of the University of Maryland at College Park, I was most sorely disappointed to read about their recent decision to allow public hardcore pornography screenings under the veil of "free speech."  If free speech were the issue then why are students banned from wearing shirts with derogatory terms about Duke to basketball games?  If free speech were the issue then why must students bring every flier they plan to distribute to the University's Resident Life Program for approval?  If free speech were the issue then why does the campus have designated 'free speech zones'? 

"The official guidelines of the University of Maryland the University System spell out very specific speech regulations.  The University of Maryland's Code of Student Conduct prohibits "briefly booing, clapping hands or heckling...when the appropriate University official requests silence."  In fact, freedom of the press does not even exist!  The University System of Maryland's bylaws dictate that "Responsibility for adopting rules for student publications...is delegated to the President of each institution." 

"Are we to honestly believe that University System is afraid of regulating free speech?  The University System of Maryland believes hardcore pornography to be free speech, but if you show up at a ball game with a banned t-shirt and boo, be ready for the punishment."