Lone Star College: Student Group Threatened with Probation and Derecognition for Posting Flyer

The Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) were among a variety of student organizations distributing flyers at Lone Star College - Tomball during an event for student groups to recruit new members. YCT's flyer included a satirical list of "Top Ten Gun Safety Tips" including, "If your gun misfires, never look down the barrel to inspect it." Program Manager for Student Activities Shannon Marino reportedly told the YCT Chairman that the flyer was inappropriate and confiscated the flyers. Comer appealed to Dean of Student Development E. Edward Albracht, but Albracht also said the flyer was inappropriate and invoked the prior year's shootings at Virginia Tech. Marino informed Comer that the school's legal department would be reviewing YCT's flyers and that afterward, the school might disband YCT or put the group on probation for the year. FIRE contacted the Lone Star administration about its violations of YCT's rights. Brian S. Nelson, General Counsel for the Lone Star College System. replied that any "mention of firearms and weapons" is inherently a "material interference with the operation of the school or the rights of others" because such language "brings fear and concern to students, faculty and staff." Nevertheless, YCT was allowed to remain a student organization without any disciplinary consequences.