Colorado College: Students Found Guilty for Satirical Flyer
Two students were found guilty of violating the school's "violence" policy by posting a flyer that parodied a flyer from the Feminist and Gender Studies program. Colorado College's "Feminist and Gender Studies Interns" distributed a flyer called "The Monthly Rag," which included a reference to "male castration," an announcement about a lecture on "feminist porn," and an explanation of "packing" (pretending to have a phallus). As a parody of "The Monthly Rag," the two students distributed a flyer called "The Monthly Bag." The flyer included references to "tough guy wisdom," "chainsaw etiquette," the shooting range of a sniper rifle, and a quotation about "female violence and abuse" of men from the website batteredmen.com. As a result of the school's action against the students, a disciplinary letter remains in each of their academic files.
Case Materials
"FIRE Exposes Unrepentant Abusers of Liberty in ‘U.S. News’ College Rankings Issue," FIRE Press Release, August 25, 2008: The 2009 edition of U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges issue, released today, includes a full-page advertisement from FIRE highlighting the five colleges and universities that have earned FIRE's Red Alert distinction for being the "worst of the worst" when it comes to liberty on campus. Students should think twice before choosing to attend Red Alert schools, which include Brandeis University, Colorado College, Johns Hopkins University, Tufts University, and Valdosta State University.
"Colorado College Board of Trustees Backs School in Punishing Students for ‘Violent’ Parody," FIRE Press Release, June 26, 2008: The Chair of Colorado College's (CC's) Board of Trustees has affirmed the school's actions in finding that student Chris Robinson and another student wishing to remain anonymous violated CC's "violence" policy for posting a flyer that parodied a flyer of the Feminist and Gender Studies program. In a letter to FIRE, Board of Trustees Chair David van Diest Skilling wrote that "the College acted correctly in their handling of the students' behavior" and that "there is no need for further action." FIRE continues to call on CC to remove the guilty verdict from the students' files immediately and to stand by its own promises of freedom of expression.
"Colorado College Denies Appeal of Students Responsible for ‘Violent’ Parody," FIRE Press Release, April 28, 2008: Colorado College has denied student Chris Robinson's appeal of its finding that he and another student violated the school's "violence" policy for posting a flyer that parodied a flyer of the Feminist and Gender Studies program. The school also has decided not to remove any letters about the case from the students' files until after graduation. FIRE is assisting Robinson in his case against the school.
"Colorado College Punishes, Deems Students “Violent” for Satirical Flyer," FIRE Press Release, March 31, 2008: Two students at Colorado College were found guilty of violating the school's conduct code regarding "violence" after they distributed a satirical flyer mocking a publication of the Feminist and Gender Studies program. As part of their punishment, the students have been required to hold a campus forum discussing issues brought up by their satirical publication. They turned to FIRE for help.
"Colorado College Joins Worst Offenders of Liberty on FIRE’s Red Alert List," Erin Osovets, May 15, 2008: Colorado College has earned the dubious distinction of being placed on FIRE's Red Alert list because of its disregard for protected speech, obvious display of double standards, and lack of a fair judicial process. In order to be placed on Red Alert, an institution must be an unrepentant offender against basic rights that it either promises or that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution, and maintain policies and/or practices that demonstrate a serious and ongoing threat to students and faculty. Colorado College has refused to remove the guilty finding from the records of two students who posted a parody flyer on campus and reaffirm its published commitments to free speech.
