California student struggles against ‘disruption’ finding

A student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo is accusing his university of violating his freedom of speech by charging and finding him guilty of “disruption” for attempting to post a flier on a public bulletin board.

Hostile students claimed the fliers, promoting a speech by a black conservative author, were “racist” and “not approved.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has taken up the cause of student Steve Hinkle, who entered the university’s Multicultural Center on Nov. 12 to post a flier on a public bulletin board promoting Mason Weaver’s campus speech about his book.

Mr. Weaver’s book, “It’s OK to Leave the Plantation,” argues that dependence on government programs is harmful to the black community and puts it in circumstances similar to slavery.

Several students approached Mr. Hinkle, a member of the Cal Poly College Republicans, claiming they were “offended” by the flier and said it violated the center’s posting policy, said Greg Lukianoff, director of legal and public advocacy at FIRE.

“The students demanded he not put up the flier, saying it was disrespectful and they would contact the police if he put it up,” Mr. Lukianoff said. “They succeeded in that he didn’t post it, but the censors called police anyway, saying a suspicious white male was distributing racial material.”

FIRE has sent a letter to University President Warren Baker saying that Mr. Hinkle wants the disruption charge overturned and wiped from his permanent record, and also seeks an apology from the university with a guarantee that nothing like this will happen again.

Unofficial investigative reports from Cal Poly University Police to the school’s judicial authorities stated that the flier was approved.

Cal Poly’s legal officials refused to discuss the situation, saying the details are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Mr. Hinkle’s flier contains a picture of the author, the title of the book and information about when and where Mr. Weaver would be speaking.

The other students “have a right to disagree with the poster, but not in stopping the posting,” Mr. Lukianoff said. “There was a complete misunderstanding on what the flier meant; that aspect is ridiculous.”

On Jan. 29, Cal Poly charged Mr. Hinkle with disruption of a campus event.

According to Cal Poly University Police reports, the students claimed they were holding a Bible study dinner and meeting at the time of the incident.

“You have no right to go after speech that offends you,” Mr. Lukianoff said. “It is ironic because they were offended by their own misunderstanding of the flier.”

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