thefire.org

University of Texas at Arlington: Fraternity Banned From Wearing Greek Letters During Investigation

Case Materials

• "Letter from University of Texas at Arlington Vice President for Student Affairs Frank R. Lamas to FIRE, November 13, 2012," November 13, 2012
• "Second letter from FIRE to University of Texas at Arlington, November 6, 2012," November 6, 2012
• "Response to FIRE from Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Lamas, October 3, 2012.pdf," October 3, 2012
• "FIRE letter to University of Texas at Arlington, September 13, 2012," September 13, 2012
• "Cease and Desist Letter from OSC Director Heather Snow, February 10, 2012," February 10, 2012

Blog Entries

• "Right to Wear Greek Letters Vindicated at UT Arlington," by Peter Bonilla, November 30, 2012: At the University of Texas at Arlington, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was wrongly prohibited from wearing its letters while the fraternity was under investigation, an unconstitutional abridgement of the fraternity members' basic right to free expression. UTA also imposed broad restrictions on all "activity" and "gatherings," a punishment with chilling implications for the free speech and assembly rights of all student organizations at UTA. After FIRE wrote to UTA, the university responded by reaffirming its support of the right of students "to express their views individually and in organized groups, orally and in writing or by other symbols on our campus."