Auburn University: Ban on Ron Paul Window Hanging Exposes Double Standard

In November 2011, Auburn University student Eric Philips was required to remove a banner supporting Ron Paul's presidential campaign from the inside of his dormitory window. Despite Auburn's policy prohibiting all window decorations in its residence halls, Philips documented numerous examples of the policy not being enforced against other students. Following a letter from FIRE on December 9, 2011, Auburn responded that it was committed to a "total ban" on this form of student expression. When FIRE presented Auburn with continued photographic evidence of its selective enforcement, however, Auburn then claimed that the policy existed for the "safety, health, and wellbeing" of Auburn students. Philips and FIRE, however, have continued to document Auburn's lax enforcement of the policy, calling into question the legitimacy of the "safety" rationale.