Students Angry Over UT's Apparent Disregard for Free Speech

Editor's Note: ACS conducted the interview with Co-President of UT's Students for Debra Medina, Tyler Rosen, at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.  There has not been ample time for ACS to contact UT's attorney or other parties involved in this story.  What you hear below is a raw version of the interview with Rosen.  ACS will follow up with other sides of the issue on Wednesday and will report the facts given.  Until that time, Rosen explains his point of view that the university took down a Debra Medina sign and violated laws.


Tyler Rosen, the co-president of Students for Debra Medina on the University of Texas campus, is angry over an apparent violation of freedom of speech and laws that support campaigning.

Rosen said on Thursday, his group erected a 4' x 8' sign outside of the Flawn Academic Center - a Travis County early voting location - in support of Republican candidate for governor, Debra Medina, in the March 2 primaries.  According to Rosen, the university removed the sign around 5 p.m. Friday, and the group filed a theft report to the UT police department later that night.

Rosen explains that after getting no where, and losing weekend campaigning opportunities, Students for Debra Medina, in conjunction with Longhorns for Kay Bailey Hutchison, placed several more signs outside of the center on Monday.  By Tuesday, Rosen said the signs were removed as well.

Rosen tells ACS he has contacted UT's attorney, Jeff Graves, and expects the university to give him and his group the right to express their opinion as stated in the United States Constitution.  According to a press statement, Rosen said the university has infringed on students' rights:

Prior to placing the sign, group leaders conferred with the Texas Secretary of State who confirmed that the University of Texas, being a public institution, could not restrict political sign placement outside of the prescribed limits of a public early voting location. The Texas Election Code section 43.031 states that, “A polling place may not be located in a building … unless electioneering is permitted on the building's premises outside the prescribed limits within which electioneering is prohibited.” Jeff Graves claim that, “[the] sign was placed in violation of the University's rules regarding placement of signs.” However, the group maintains that University’s policy does not supersede state law.  

Hear Rosen in his own words by listening to the audio podcast below.