After geography professor Altha Cravey was asked by police to take down a “Hurston Hall” sign in her office in the newly renamed Carolina Hall Friday due to a strict policy regarding signs, administrators are examining that policy.
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Matt Fajack said the policy, which defines what signs can and can’t be posted around campus, is too broad.
The policy, Section VI.B.2 in “The Use of University Facilities for Noncommmercial and Commercial Purposes, states “No notice, advertisement, or document of any kind shall be attached to any wall, door, lamppost, tree, or other surface except as provided in Section VI.B.1”
“(The policy) is ridiculous,” Fajack told the Faculty Executive Committee Monday. “I want to apologize to you about that.”
“Dr. Cravey rightly complained about freedom of speech issues,” he said.
Fajack said his office is working to change the policy and he has asked DPS not to enforce the policy for cases involving Hurston Hall in the meantime.
Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff McCracken said a DPS officer noticed the sign Friday and radioed her position. Her supervisor and another nearby officer responded as backup.
Fajack said it was unfortunate that three officers responded to the call, but it was unplanned.
“They weren’t trying to have a political stance,” he said. “They weren’t trying to intimidate anyone. They were just doing their job.”
