Clemson University: Restrictions on Contacting Public Officials

On January 12, 2010, Clemson employees received an email telling them that they were prohibited from contacting public officials without prior arrangement of and notification by Clemson officials. FIRE contacted president James F. Barker on January 15, noting that the content of the email misrepresented Clemson's "Contacting Public Officials" policy and violated employees' First Amendment right to petition public officials. Shortly after receiving FIRE's letter, Clemson sent another email to its employees making it clear that individuals are free to contact public officials when they are not on university business, and signaling that faculty members' contacts with public officials as part of their academic work are not subject to the policy's requirements.

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  • "Clemson University Clarifies Ban on Freely Contacting Public Officials after FIRE Intervenes," by Adam Kissel, January 21, 2010: After Clemson University told faculty members and all other employees that they could not contact public officials without prior arrangement by and notification of Clemson officials, the university has provided a clarification of the policy following receipt of a letter from FIRE. The original notification violated individuals' First Amendment right to petition public officials. After FIRE intervened, Clemson made clear that individuals are free to contact public officials when they are not on university business, and signaled that faculty members' contacts with public officials as part of their academic work are not subject to the policy's requirements.