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Controversy strikes publications council - Page 6 Inside local student discounts - Page 9 Volume 3 An independent The Virginia publication at the College Issue 12 of William and Mary. April 23, 2008 The common sense paper Established 2005 Informer of record on campus. www.VAInformer.com Free speech advocate proposes Mail thief discovered, significant changes to College’s code incident kept quiet Hopes to turn W&M into a “Green Light” university by administration Jennifer Souers Andrew Blasi they were discovered to Business Editor Editor in Chief have committed theft and is not permitted to return Braum Katz (’10), Student In late February, post to campus property. The Assembly Undersecretary of office staff discovered an Informer cannot confirm the Student Rights for Free Speech employee going through identity of the alleged thief Advocacy, is actively trying to student mail in search of and has no information protect First Amendment Rights valuables such as cash and regarding criminal charges at William and Mary by turning the gift cards. In the April resulting from the incidents. College from a “Red Light” into a 18th issue of The Flat Hat It has also been reported that “Green Light” university. A very a front page story alleged the Post Master General was prestigious designation awarded by widespread theft may be notified of the incident. FIRE (Foundation for Individual taking place at the campus According to sources, Vice Rights in Education), a green light post office. President of student affairs denotes campus policies regarding According to numerous Sam Sadler and Interim freedom of speech that are in anonymous sources within Vice President for student accordance with the Constitution, the college administration affairs Ginger Ambler held Supreme Court decisions and other and postal services, The a private meeting to discuss laws. “We have a very ‘free speech Virginia Informer can confirm the matter soon thereafter. friendly’ administration; I’m just that an employee was caught No information or public trying to take away any potential for in the act of theft in late statement was released by abuse,” Mr. Katz said. Readers of February. The employee was college officials following The Informer may be well aware of Jennifer Souers subsequently fired and the this incident, which may have these circumstances as first reported Red Light, Green Light: Katz’s effort to change speech tampered mail was resealed resulted in the undetected in our March issue. code policies in the Student Handbook are drawing significant and delivered to students. theft of a significantly higher With the support of the Student attention around campus. The employee was removed quantity of student mail. Assembly and The Virginia Informer, from the post office the day Mr. Katz has now presented four proposals to has become the center of our campus; this is the administration which, if approved, would a place where ideas should be disseminated A tale of two College Professors: turn William and Mary into a “Green Light” and shared,” he said. university. These proposals deal with what Mr. Katz is also working on a provision to legally constitutes harassment, discriminatory ensure that restrictions placed on banners The Williamsburg Redevelopment language and the right to distribute materials. and posters are legal. He cites the 1973 Miller “People have the right not to be harassed,” Criterion, which provides the legal definition and Housing Authority buys Mr. Katz says, “but we need to use the legal to which posters and similar materials must definition of harassment and not overstep our conform. He states that the current language professor’s house bounds.” Mr. Katz’s most pressing provision is could be abused to restrict posters with one that addresses the time, place and manner language that is not illegal, but simply presents Kristin Coyner restrictions for distributing materials that are an opinion someone may find offensive. Opinion Editor currently listed in the Student Handbook. “People have the right not to be threatened; Currently the handbook states that “requests they do not have the right not to be insulted,” On March 9, 2006 the Williamsburg City Council unanimously for demonstrations, rallies, vigils, and Mr. Katz argued. approved allocating up to $310,000 of city funds in a loan to the distribution of materials must be made in Mr. Katz’s provisions are all submitted with Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority (WRHA) for writing to the Office of Student Activities at the intention of revising the current codes so the acquisition of 110 Harrison Avenue. The WRHA is non-profit least 48 hours in advance of the event with that legal speech is not restricted. “I just want public agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, separate from the specific location… The College reserves the the policies to match the law,” Mr. Katz said. He WRHA BUYS PROFESSOR’S HOUSE right to impose reasonable time, place, and passionately described his work as contributing continued on page ten manner restrictions upon such expressions” to the liberal arts experience. “Free speech is (Student Handbook, pg. 62-63). part of the fundamentals; liberal democracy Mr. Katz does not disagree with these means having things challenged.” Currently, conditions, so long as they are fair. “I he has submitted his proposals to former understand and support reasonable time, Vice President of Student Affairs Sam Sadler, place and manner restrictions. People’s new Vice President Ginger Ambler, Dean of education should not be interrupted. A rock Students David Gilbert and College President concert outside a classroom interferes with W. Taylor Reveley. They have not responded people’s learning. But we should make these directly to his proposals, but have stated that restrictions as least restrictive as possible.” In his issues will be placed on the agenda for response to questions about using restrictions their summer retreat. Mr. Sadler, in a prior to limit the possibility of handing out obscene email, stated that these changes might be materials, Mr. Katz argues that there are legal something that would have to go before the provisions against obscenity that would solve student body. Mr. Katz argued that if William that problem. Mr. Katz is working to allow and Mary were to implement his proposed distribution of newspapers and other materials updates, we would become one of the most on the University Center terrace. Currently free speech friendly university codes in the a “distribution-free” zone, Mr. Katz states nation. “This is something I feel is worthy of Kristin Coyner that if the administration wants to keep the the legacies of alumni Thomas Jefferson and Low-incoming housing? This Harrison Avenue property’s assessed terrace that way, they need to provide a legal John Marshall, both of whom were staunch value of $286,900 is markedly lower than the WRHA’s current asking justification for their actions. “The UC terrace defenders of our rights and liberties.” price of $389,900. CONTENTS Want to get every issue of The Informer in the mail? News................................ 2 Inside look at the city E-mail [email protected] with your name and address, and we will send you an order form and your first Features............................ 6 council candidates issue FREE! Arts & Culture.................. 11 Opinion............................ 14 Page 8 Page The Virginia April 23, 2008 News Informer Wren Great Hall hosts historic city council debate Matt Sutton The candidates—current William exchanges. The city’s prohibition on Mr. Beato faced questions over his Managing Editor Emeritus and Mary student Matt Beato (’09), more than three unrelated persons living experience and suitability for elected incumbent Paul Freiling (’83), together in a house was a target of office. He defended his candidacy by The College hosted a debate in the incumbent Vice Mayor and Chair of the criticism by Messrs. Beato and Granger, noting his experience in the Student Wren Great Hall on Thursday, April College’s Economics Department Clyde with the other candidates claiming Assembly and his recent election to 10, for the six candidates running for Haulman, former mayor Gil Granger varying levels of openness to revisiting the city’s Colonial Soil and Water Williamsburg City Council . The council (’57), Judy Knudson, former head of and possibly loosening it. Conservation Board. Mr. Beato also hopefuls squared off on a variety of the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals, Ms. Knudson and Mr. Freiling were refuted the notion that he was solely after local issues, all while playing to a newly and local activist Terence Wehle (’77)— questioned about their past efforts on the student vote and painted himself empowered demographic in the city: the all emphasized their commitment to the issue. Mr. Freiling was influential as a candidate eager to reach out to all College’s students. improving town-gown relations. Most in blocking plans for a student-focused demographics in Williamsburg. Before this election cycle, most of the cited the need for greater dialogue and apartment complex on Richmond Some of the candidates showed a College’s students were unable to register outreach between residents and students Road. When questioned on the issue, lighter side at the debate. Mr. Granger to vote in Williamsburg due to the and between the city government and Councilman Freiling cited numerous used his opportunity to ask a question restrictive rules of former Williamsburg the College. problems with the complex’s design for of a fellow candidate to inquire about voter registrar, Dave Andrews. Mr. The Student Assembly sponsored the his decision but hinted that he would Mr. Freiling’s GPA while he attended the Andrews’ replacement reversed his debate, which was the first ever to be held be more flexible on future proposals. College. interpretation of Virginia’s election on campus. Newly elected SA President Ms.