Anna Gorman, Campus Carrier news editor

The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) sparked concerns for freedom of speech on campus by sending an email on March 31 noting Berry’s solicitation and flyer approval policy. These concerns come shortly after anonymous “Fascism Warning Signs” posters were hung in Krannert and academic buildings. The posters list several components of fascism and have two QR codes on the bottom labeled “fight” and “connect.”

Dean of Students Lindsey Taylor confirmed that this email was sent in part because of the fascism warning signs posters, but mostly to remind students of Berry’s policies in general.

“What was sent out on our email was copied directly from Viking Code, pages 92 and 100-101,” Assistant Director of Student Involvement Ramsie Wright said over email. “These policies have been in place for a while, and our email was to just serve as a reminder.” 

According to the Viking Code, Berry has a strict no-solicitation policy, and students looking to post flyers must consult OSI. Posting flyers in academic buildings varies depending on department, according to Taylor, but those posted in Krannert must be approved by OSI to be hung. 

According to Taylor, the approval process in academic buildings and what academic buildings may allow versus Krannert looks different. Some fascism warning signs flyers are still up in Evans on tables, doors and bulletin boards, and they have not been removed since going up.

Both the email reminder and the Viking Code said any advertisement in Krannert must be approved through both OSI and the Dean of Students, though Taylor said her role is like a backup.

“If something goes to [OSI] and they’re unsure, they would consult me,” Taylor said. “That way, if there’s a question or a grey area that they’re not sure about, they have another set of eyes.”

Some of the fascism warning signs have been removed from Krannert. However, rumors of the flyers being taken down in Krannert during campus tours are unsubstantiated, according to Taylor. If there was any issue on a campus tour, Taylor said she’d usually get a text or report. She hadn’t received anything.

However, Taylor did confirm that the fascism warning signs flyers were not approved to be put up in the first place, which could have led to them getting taken down in Krannert.

“[In Krannert], when it comes to flyers, I do know that there was some question about whether they should take [the fascism flyers] down, and it’s really a cleanliness and tidiness process more than anything,” Taylor said. “If any flyer is hung or attached where it’s not supposed to be, or it’s not approved, they go through regularly and do a sweep of that.”

This goes against what Taylor initially said in an interview in September, that Berry places few restrictions on how and where students can post messages in support of a political cause.

“The only thing is signs in residence hall windows, but that’s less to do with political speech and more to do with access and exit,” Taylor said in September.

The flyer approval process is different based on what aspect of campus the advertisement is connected to, such as student organization, club, academic department or through LifeWorks.

“As long as it is through a recognized organization department approved through a very official entity, that what we’re looking for,” Taylor said.

In terms of concerns for freedom of speech on campus, Taylor believes this policy to be right in line with free speech.

“If it’s been approved, or it’s come through one of the official [departments] we’re not going to censor what it is, unless it has profanity or is hate speech,” Taylor said. “It’s not our job to determine whether or not we like the content. It’s not whether or not Lindsey Taylor agrees or disagrees. If it’s profanity, we’re just going to ask you to take that word out. We’re not going to ask you to change the concept, so there shouldn’t be an infringement in freedom of speech.”

Taylor also said that the content on a flyer is not a direct violation of code in any kind of way. To use the fascism warning signs flyers as an example, the problem was not the fact that they were about fascism and urging students to fight back against fascism. The problem was that it didn’t go through the right approval process to be posted and, because of that, administration couldn’t check if the QR codes were legitimate, which was a cybersecurity concern Taylor had.

“It’s like, ‘I don’t know what you’re scanning,’” Taylor said. “We want to make sure our students aren’t scanning something that could be dangerous. And when I say dangerous, I’m thinking more of your electronic devices or unknowingly putting your name somewhere. So, that’s more of what we think through that what the content is.”

Taylor said the policy, as it stands now, is clear and uncomplicated.

“I think, even as OSI was asking me, it’s just good to remind folks,” Taylor said. “Reminder isn’t bad. And [the process] is pretty straightforward, and it shouldn’t be overly complicated, and we haven’t had huge issues.”

Taylor encouraged students who have concerns about freedom of speech at Berry to speak up.

“If you ever hear a student concerned with freedom of speech, I’d love to know, because part of the academic experience is freedom of speech, so you can wrestle with ideas and test thoughts and thinking, as much as we can [do] to protect that, because it is important,” Taylor said.