Hall Director "Very offended" by one of Oleg's poster, any similar experiences?

[geekWithA.45]

Yup, put it up.

There's nothing inherently offensive about any of Oleg's work.

Put the onus, and burden of proof back on them, where it belongs.

Their irrationality is neither your responsibility, nor your problem.

 

[Sportcat]

Eskimo,

My point exactly. If it is a private institution, you left your rights at the entrance to the institution. The private institution can set whatever rules they like; don't like it, leave.

The public instiution will have a much, much harder time preventing you from displaying your poster.

 

[Kharn]

12-34hom:
I've got that one on my harddrive, but I have a few others I prefer more.

The "Girls: Dont carry guns, 99.8% of rapists polled perfer you unarmed" with the snubby is currently underneath the "Thought Criminal" sign on my door. The original one will go back up after I find out exactly how she claims to be "very offended" by it.

Kharn

 

[bogie]

People don't THINK. They jump to conclusions, then they don't wanna change their minds...

One of my neighbors left me a nasty note accusing me of siding with criminals because I have a "Criminals Prefer Unarmed Victims" bumper sticker on my Mitsu...

 

[DigMe]

Kharn,

It could be that she's been raped at some point in her life and every time she sees that poster it's a reminder of that incident. Of course that's not your fault but if she is truly offended by the "rapist" part of it then put the poster back up with a little piece of paper over the word "rapists" that has a different word such as "muggers" or something. Then you'll find out for real if she's offended by the rapist aspect or if she's just a flaming anti. In my mind though I feel that the subject of rape is something that men need to tread lightly around. It's pretty hard for us to understand (unless you've been raped yourself I guess, which is unlikely but possible), I mean truly understand. So if it's the actual rape part that hits her on a personal level I think I'd be ok with that and take it down. I guess that's why you really should discuss it with her but we shouldn't automatically assume that it's an anti-gun thing.

Actually I think I'd just do the little taping over "rapists" thing immediately without talking to her...then when you see her in the hall say something like "Hey I took your note seriously and I understand that it's a very sensitive subject for some folks (if she's anti then she'll immediately think the "subject" you're speaking of is guns, not rape) so I changed my poster." Then see if you still get any more notes.

brad cook

 

[Black92LX]

My point exactly. If it is a private institution, you left your rights at the entrance to the institution. The private institution can set whatever rules they like; don't like it, leave.

that is not fully true. that only goes for public spaces. like the outside of a door is considered public space. but say it is in your own personal room but can be seen from the outside nothing can be said about that.

i go to a private university. i also learned they can't quite exercise all the descretion they want considering there are some public funds in all private institutions.

though if you get into moderate trouble it is handled by the University and not the state! which can be a very good thing.

 

[Leatherneck]

Does anybody really believe that Kharn's not dealing with a narrow-minded hoplophobic product of the liberal Maryland educational establishment? One who's gotten some "status" at least in her own mind? The situation reeks of ignorant bias.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[gburner]

PUT IT BACK UP......
and give her $0.35 to call the Crisis line and discuss her feelings.

 

[Jeepman]

Put The Poster Back Up!
Many here have stated very valid reasons for putting the poster up.
Being so close to graduation shouldn't deter you. Just think of the lawsuit if this affects your degree completion!

If the reference to a rapist is the problem, covering it up and repacing it with criminals should be just fine, I'd cover it with paper thin enough so the origonal word can be seen.

 

[spacemanspiff]

folks, maybe the 'offensive' part is something entirely different!

maybe this person has a relative who is a rapist that met with such a disappointing intended victim. maybe seeing that poster reminded her of how much she misses her poor underprivileged relative who had an uncurable sickness (through no fault of his own!) even though he had a really good heart!


put this one up as well.

 

[Dave R]

When you put the poster back up, if you get another mesage that says "this offends me" on the whiteboard, you might write under that message "try being more tolerant of others viewpoints."

My experience is Liberals hate being called intolerant. They tolerate everything else...

 

[artherd]

Erase your whiteboard, and write "If this offends you, guess what you are?"

Put it back up.

 

[Kharn]

Well, one of the less-mature guys on the floor (he's a constant trouble maker, always jokingly/half-seriously trying to steal my meager stash of beer or knick-nacks I have on my desk) vandalized the Thought Criminal and Dont Carry Guns posters I had up. I'll give him a few more days to try growing up, and then put some more up.

Kharn

 

[GigaBuist]

I'd put it back up.

Then again, I wish I was far more crass during my school years. I'm probably one of few people that actually wish they acted more "nutty" in those times. Hindsight is 20/20 though.

I'm quite fond of Oleg's work. Personally, here'd be my choice to hang:

 

[Jim K]

I may be in the minority here, but I "take offense" at that because I don't like guns pointed at me, even in pictures. I once entered a video store that had a life size picture of the latest "hero" pointing a gun directly at the viewer. I almost dived back out and drew before I realized it was a cardboard cutout.

Jim

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Makes me wonder what type of "free speech" rights there are in dorms? The forum isn't a public forum or a quasi-public forum. If it is private property (although owned and managed by the University), then check your lease agreement. Correct me if I'm wrong, but University rules don't apply to dormitories, do they and even if they did, those rules must be pretty lose regarding free speech. And if the lease agreement is silent, then you may have the right to post what you want.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I figured I'd throw in my two cents regarding this comment. I agree with what everyone has said about free speech and the various possibilities regarding it. However, property rights at your university are probably a joke. I did some research in this area when I had a disagreement with the Housing Office over who was responsible for finding me another roommate when my old one moved out (not my fault). Read the fine print at the beginning of your housing contract. Most likely that the contract you are signing is not a lease per se, but a "license" to live in the dorms. Essentially this means you get to live in the dorms, but you don't have any of the ordinary rights you have in a normal tenant-landlord relationship. That's the way my contract is (at the University of North Dakota) and, as far as I was able to determine, that's pretty standard. I have not been able to come up with a reason for that arrangment except to allow the college to jerk the students around at will.

That said, free speech is a completely SEPERATE ISSUE and this should not be construed as arguing that the fine legal points of your housing situation affect your free speech. They might, but I'm only talking about "property rights" in this post.

 

[TechBrute]

I may be in the minority here, but I "take offense" at that because I don't like guns pointed at me, even in pictures. I once entered a video store that had a life size picture of the latest "hero" pointing a gun directly at the viewer. I almost dived back out and drew before I realized it was a cardboard cutout.

I think they have medication for that these days. Is it all paper guns that bother you, or only guns printed on heavy bond paper?

 

[nico]

I may be in the minority here, but I "take offense" at that because I don't like guns pointed at me, even in pictures. I once entered a video store that had a life size picture of the latest "hero" pointing a gun directly at the viewer. I almost dived back out and drew before I realized it was a cardboard cutout.

haha I understand what you're saying, but when I read that, I pictured a guy in BDUs walking into Blockbuster then immediately diving (using a tactial roll of course) behind the candy rack while putting 2 holes in Rambo's head and scaring the s*** out of everyone.

 

[gtd]

As a Terp, I'll say the university has lots of opportunities for rapists and their ilk.

Sendy just needs to get a clue.

How many times have you found the "secure" dorm doorway jammed open by a stick or such?

How many incidents have been reported for the dorm? I'll wager many fewer than actually have occurred.

Security is a joke in the dorms. It's been 20 years, but I'm sure it has not improved.

 

[DesertRat]

Well, if your Hall Director is ver offended by that message, then perhaps she is a rapist herself.

 

[nico]

I'm pretty sure Kharn said he's a student at the University of Delaware, but I have no doubt this same situation could/would happen at UMCP too. Just last week, I was "told off" on my history class listserve (we have to participate) for comparing bowling for columbine to This Is Spinal Tap. He informed me that I was ignorant for comparing such a great documentary to Spinal Tap regardless of the facts I presented. I added that last part, but that was the gist of what he said. I has posted 2 links to sites refuting a lot of the bs in the movie and his response was name calling. typical I meant to respond, but I had better things to do (like shooting things with an assault weapon! )

 

[only1asterisk]

Maybe one of our resident photoshop people can make a large MD concealed weapons permit to hang on the door. If you graduate this spring maybe you could just rotate Oleg's posters until you left. Knowing firsthand what crap students hang on their doors in dorm, I'd wager that your sign was among the least offensive.

David

 

[clubsoda22]

Put the poster back up IMMEDIATELY. Place it right next to the "thought criminal" poster. The hall director has as much right to be offended as you do to put up the poster. I've told my GA (Hall directors at my university) to go **** themselves on three seperate occasions. At one point he keyed into my room for an illigitimate search (someone had thrown a water balloon at him and my room is next to the bathroom, which would have been the obvious place to throw a water baloon as it has sinks and an unobstructed window) So, i ripped him a new rectal oraface. You should be as bold.

Just remember, the penalty for offending your hall director is extra scrutiny. Suddenly the xyz that everyone else has and that you've had in your room for months is no longer allowed, but only for you.

Early in the year i had my dorm room thoroughly searched by campus safety on the suspicion that i had guns. I flat out told them that i keep my stuff at home, but they insisted on the search. they gave me an attitude when they searched, so when they didn't find anything, i called them rent-a-cops and made a couple remarks that generally upset them. One of the guys was an ex-cop, and i made it rather clear what the ex means. Told them they could come back when they had some real cops. I had the right to be upset as this was 2:30am.

Right after they left, i put one of olegs posters as the background of my computer screen and the RA complained that it was inappropriate given my situation to i told her she could call the jackboots back if she wanted to play hardball, otherwise she could piss off. Haven't heared about it since.

 

[clubsoda22]

I'm pretty sure Kharn said he's a student at the University of Delaware

Is that right kharn? How would you like to be an honorary member of the unofficial widener university student gun club? Just a 30 minute drive and you can go shooting with me and fslflint.

We pride ourselves with not being afraid to use non-PC guns. We emphasise having a safe fun time in the shooting sports rather than putting holes in a paper at 25 yards with a single shot .22 all day. We're an unofficial club because for some reason they don't have intercollegiate high power or or IDPA competitions...

Unfortunately we are still looking for a range that will not complain about over 18 but under 21 handgun shooters.

 

[Kharn]

Yeap, I'm at U of Delaware in Newark, not College Park MD (my little brother is at College Park, talk about a cesspool of crime and such, at least no UDel'ers have been killed during robberies...)

The best part about this whole mess is that there's a three-page rape-awareness story hanging on the door of the girls bathroom (which reads like its pretty man-hating). I'm going to take offense to that and ask that it be removed if the hall director keeps objecting to Oleg posters.

GigaBuist:
Thanks for digging up that one, its perfect but I'd totally forgotten about it.

clubsoda22:
I wish I could come out to join the club sometime, but being a ChemEng, I dont have very many free weekends. And, all my guns are 120 miles away, in the wrong direction.

Kharn