Portland State University: Student Disciplined for Phone Call to Library Employee

On March 16, 2011, Portland State University student Rachel Cain had a telephone conversation with a PSU library employee concerning a library policy. Cain was not satisfied and left a phone message for the employee, criticizing the employee's professionalism. Cain was later notified that her phone call had been reported to PSU's student life office, and on March 23, Cain was charged with "Obstruction or Disruption of University Activity or Process" and "Failure to comply with a University Official's requests." She was found responsible for both charges, charged a $10 discipline fee, and asked to sign a "Behavioral Agreement." Cain appealed, and following intervention from FIRE, PSU dismissed Cain's charges in August 2011.