University of Oklahoma: Ban on E-mailing Political Humor or Commentary

Weeks prior to the 2008 presidential election, the University of Oklahoma (OU) notified students and faculty that "the forwarding of political humor/commentary" using their university email accounts was prohibited. After FIRE wrote OU President David L. Boren, explaining that the policy violated the right to freedom of speech, Boren replied that the policy was intended to be applicable only "to the extent discussions are attributable to the University as endorsing or opposing a political candidate." Boren issued a university-wide statement on October 27, 2008, fully rescinding the earlier email and stating that OU policy "does not limit the right of anyone to express individual views."