In a follow-up to its email of last week, the University of Florida administration, by way of Dr. Telles-Irvin, sent an email to all UF students in order to clarify some of its points.
To: All UF students
From: Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President for Student Affairs
Subject: My e-mail last weekThere has been much discussion about an e-mail I sent Nov. 26 regarding the posters advertising the movie “Obsession.”
Since that time, some important dialogue has been exchanged between members of the student groups involved. But over the last week, there has been some misunderstanding on the university’s position on certain points. Please allow me to clarify.
* The university supports the rights of students to freely express themselves on any issue.
* The university condemns terrorists acts and those who perpetrate them, regardless of who they are. And we clearly recognize there are people who use Islam to support violence.
* The university has no intention of taking disciplinary action against anyone involved in creating or distributing the posters. That was never a consideration.
* The university has heard allegations that the posters were removed by people who opposed their message. Efforts by the University Police Department and Student Affairs to confirm this or identify offenders were unsuccessful. Removal of posters from proper venues is prohibited by the university’s policies and will not be tolerated.
The original intent of my e-mail was to foster greater understanding and communication among groups. As we all surely know, free speech is a cherished right not only in this country but also on this campus. We should always feel comfortable expressing our diverse opinions.
What do you think?
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