thefire.org

Seminole Community College: Refusal to Allow Student to Distribute Literature

Florida's Seminole Community College censored student Eliana Campos when she tried to pass out flyers expressing disapproval with slaughterhouse practices. The flyers, which were produced by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was censored when an administrator proclaimed that Campos' documents, "instill[ed] a feeling" in her that she did not like. Approximately one week after FIRE's David French sent a letter to SCC, Ms. Campos' free speech rights were restored. SCC also agreed to create a committee to review all of its policies regarding speech.

Case Materials

• "Victory for Freedom of Speech at Seminole Community College," June 16, 2005: In a quick yet important victory for freedom of speech, Florida’s Seminole Community College is allowing a student to distribute literature on slaughterhouse brutality on equal terms with other students and student groups. The college, which had initially insisted that the student distribute literature only within the college’s so-called “free speech zone,” reversed this decision only a few hours after FIRE took the case public yesterday. The college has also promised to review and recommend changes to its speech policies to ensure students’ constitutional rights are respected.
• "Letter from Seminole Community College Vice President James D. Henningsen to FIRE, June 15, 2005," June 15, 2005
• "Florida College Slaughters PETA Member’s Constitutional Rights," June 15, 2005: Florida’s Seminole Community College has forbidden a student to distribute literature protesting slaughterhouse brutality at a table in the public area of the campus’ café. An administrator at the Oviedo campus refused to honor the student’s constitutional rights because the source of the literature (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “instill[ed] a feeling” in her that she did not like.
• "FIRE Letter to Seminole Community College Vice President James D. Henningsen, June 7, 2005," June 7, 2005
• "E-mail Exchange Between Seminole Community College Administrator Randall Pawlowski and Eliana Campos," June 2, 2005
• "Letter from Seminole Community College Vice President James D. Henningsen to FIRE, May 18, 2005," May 18, 2005
• "FIRE Letter to Seminole Community College President E. Ann McGee, April 18, 2005," April 18, 2005
• "E-mail Exchange Between Seminole Community College Administrator Gail Agor and Eliana Campos," March 25, 2005

Media Coverage

• "Group Defends Campus Free-Speech Rights,"
  by JoAnn Loviglio, Associated Press, August 27, 2005
• "Philly group takes national lead in fighting campus censorship,"
  by JoAnn Loviglio, Associated Press State and Local Wire, August 21, 2005
• "Fla. College Student Successfully Fights Campus ‘Free Speech Zone’,"
  by Rebecca McNulty, Student Press Law Center, June 28, 2005
• "Student Activist Wins ‘Free-Speech’ Battle,"
  by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal, June 23, 2005
• "SCC Reverses Speech Decision,"
  , Orlando Sentinel, June 19, 2005
• "A Knuckleheaded Dad’s Vow to Do Better,"
  by Bart Adams, The Daily Record (Dunn, N.C.), June 17, 2005
• "Victory for Animals and Free Speech!,"
  , peta2.com, June 17, 2005