Obama posters temporarily allowed on campus walls

The decision to have posters of President Obama and Michelle Obama removed from the walls of administrative offices on Riverside Campus and other ACC offices was formally reversed Thursday, March 26.

Until a new policy is crafted the posters of President Obama will be allowed on the walls of the administrative offices.

"After we received numerous calls from employees expressing concern about their inability to show pictures of our new President, the President (of ACC) decided to revisit the issue," said Gerry Tucker, VP of Human Relations for ACC, at a meeting of concerned citizens at Carver Library.

The four posters, enlarged copies of Ebony magazine covers with pictures of the President alone and with Michelle Obama, were taken down after an anonymous letter questioning whether it was legal or ethical to have posters of President Obama on ACC property was sent to the administration on Feb. 24.

Based on the recommendations of the administration's legal council, the posters were removed on Feb. 26.

"Unfortunately we followed that advice," said Tucker, "we are trying to reverse that and do the right thing."

Frank Taylor, Campus Manager for Riverside campus, hung the posters on the walls of his administrative office at Riverside on Feb. 1.

Taylor said he believed the posters promoted "hope and gave motivation to a community of students that I feel need that type of motivation and inspiration."

Because February was Black History Month, he assumed it was appropriate to hang posters of the first black President.

Since the posters were enlargements of Ebony magazine covers and did not mention politics, Taylor said he did not believe they promoted or supported any particular party or political ideology.

"I never anticipated that we would be asked to take them down," said Taylor.

Taylor received the anonymous letter questioning the legality of the posters on Feb. 24 along with Dr. Kinslow, President of ACC, and the members of the Board of Trustees. The letter asked the administration to consider whether the posters violated Subsection 556.0004c of the Texas Government Code and stated that "ACC facilities never displayed a poster … glowingly supporting George Bush's election.'

After meeting with ACC's legal counsel, the administration decided that the posters should be removed. On Feb. 26 Taylor complied with the administration's decision and took the posters down.

The speed with which administration reacted to the anonymous letter and the idea that pictures of the President of the United States could not be displayed on campus caused confusion and anger among much of the staff and faculty.

"I am overwhelmed with sadness," said Cheryl Richard, Student Life Director, of the administration's original decision to take down the poster. Richard said that many other staff members felt the same way.

"Maybe the effect this decision would have on this institution hasn't been thought through," said Richard.

On March 13, Dr. Kinslow sent out a memo to the ACC faculty and staff in which he attempted to explained the administration's decision by stating that, "The College is expected to present a non-partisan face to our students and all our constituents"

"It strikes me as a little bit formalistic to rush to take down all these posters," said University of Texas Law Professor Daniel Rodriguez when asked to comment on the situation at ACC, "It seems to be that best reading of the Texas Government Code is not to render every effort at political expression as violative of the government code."

A number of faculty members voiced there complaints to the administration. Ann Palmer, a Developmental Writing professor, sent a letter and spoke to the Board of Trustees urging them to reconsider the decision to remove the posters. She argued that President Obama is a role model to students and more pictures of role models on campus, not less.

"There's never been an intent to violate anyone's freedom of expression or intend any disrespect to the sitting President or to not acknowledge the historic nature of the first African American president," said Dr. Kinslow at an informal meeting open to faculty, staff and students on March 26.

Dr. Kinslow expressed his desire for employees to use ACC's shared governance process to discuss the issue and to help craft a policy regarding what should and should not be posted on public spaces around campus.

On the same day Gerry Tucker, VP of Human Relations, sent out a memo in which the time and place of three different forums where employees will be able to discuss and make policy suggestions.

"We are delighted to reverse the decision in favor of the employees and give the shared governance a chance to work," said Tucker.

The posters are once more on the walls of the administrative office on Riverside campus, and Taylor believes the administration did the right thing in reversing its decision.

"Its great to still know that in our society and in a democracy, the voice of the people does have an impact on things," said Taylor.