“Freedom of Speech” is a concept that we tend to use very frequently. Most have said or heard other say “I have the right to say whatever I want because of the 1st Amendment. This is a free country.” A very romantic, patriotic, and ideal concept, don’t you agree. However, all forms of expression are not created equal...at least not in the opinion of Michigan State University.
In 2008, Michigan State University formed a committee of administrators, faculty, staff, and students to help constructs ways to shorten their academic calendar and freshmen orientation sessions. This committee stated that its business would be discussed during physical meetings and emails. A student who served on this committee and held the office of Association Director of the student government association sent an email of her own version of the letter that was circulating amongst the committee. She sent this email to over 300 faculty members.
Whether or not the university agreed with the content of her email (which was very factual & not inflammatory) is not clear; however, the university did charge her with “spamming,” which according to the university’s policy on internal email usage, was illegal. FIRE and thirteen other organizations wrote a letter to the president of the university expressing their views on this situation, citing that the “anti-spam” policy is vague, and punishing the student violated her first amendment rights, and her rights under “the canons of academic freedom.” While trying to persuade the university to withdraw its charges, FIRE and the other organizations also charged that the university changes its internal email policy. MSU withdrew the charges, however, it tightened its hold on the internal email policy. The university detailed its “anti-spam” policy to say that sending an email of personal opinion or political ideas to 11 people was against the policy and could be punishable by the university. It also went on to say that the internal email is not for personal usage and emails sent to and from the email addresses should only pertain to “support the University’s instructional, public service, research, and administrative goal.”
Wow...so basically what Michigan State is saying is that maybe about 99.9% of us use our internal email accounts illegally (I totally made this up, but the rhetoric still stands). In our heavily dependent technological age, emails and the internet are used to do just about everything. From sending notes from class to voicing opinions about campus news, students and faculty utilize their email quite a bit. I can mildly understand why Michigan State would want to keep everything shiny and looking good concerning its image and how information is shared, however, I have a problem with the limiting the number of emails a person can send, and them choosing whether or not someone’s email is contingent upon its many goals. Who is to say that this email supports their research goals? Is there a checklist or a list of requirements that state what is right and what is wrong? And at freshman orientation, is there a session that is titled “Your Email Account is Really Not Yours”? I feel that sometimes universities and corporations in general hide behind their rules that they put in the policy documents, however, do not put any effort in making sure that the population is aware of their regulations.
I do not think it is general knowledge that the typical 18 year old freshman knows “Maybe I shouldn't send this photo of me and my sister playing in the snow to fifteen of my family members because it doesn’t directly set out to support the University’s instructional, public service, research, and administrative goals.”
Is it fair to have such stringent rules on an email account that EVERY student receives, thinking it’s their own, yet there are strict guidelines they must follow? I feel that there is some deceit involved in this. When I received my university email address, I typically did not run out to get another one, because I thought that I was at liberty to use my email account as I pleased.
Email accounts are like air to our society; everyone utilizes them. With a subject like freedom of speech, a concept that everyone general thinks is their God-given right, a university HAS to make its policies concerning this very visible and vocal.
Links:
Article: http://www.thefire.org/article/11512.html
Michigan State University’s internal email policy:
http://www.thefire.org/public/pdfs/8a334a8e576deefe137d4dbef677abda.pdf?direct
FIRE’s letter to Michigan State’s president:
http://www.thefire.org/public/pdfs/563763864da70ad7c8048a790c4fd153.pdf?direct
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