The Virginian-Pilot
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Welcome to Scott Stadium, fans. Please check your signs - and, some might argue, your freedom of speech - at the door.
In an e-mail sent Tuesday, University of Virginia students were informed that signs are banned at all school athletic events. Athletic department spokesman Rich Murray said the policy had been under consideration since last fall - about the time student David Becker was threatened with ejection from Scott Stadium.
Becker's offense? Displaying a sign calling for the firing of football coach Al Groh during the game against Duke on Sept. 8.
Virginia was coming off a season-opening loss to Wyoming, and Becker wasn't the only fan expressing his displeasure. Earlier that week, someone painted "Groh Must Go" on Beta Bridge near campus.
Becker was told his sign violated a policy banning signs, flags or banners that contain "derogatory comments, profanity, impede another guest's view of the field or cover any stadium signage."
Now all signs have been banned at Mr. Jefferson's university. This "content- and viewpoint-neutral" approach is actually more sound from a First Amendment standpoint than the old policy, according to Robert O'Neil, director of the Charlottesville-based Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
"It does not differentiate between the derogatory and the laudatory," O'Neil said. "That is reflective of an important First Amendment principle."
On the Web site TheSabre.com, sentiment was running heavily against the new policy.
"Jefferson himself once mused, 'a little rebellion now and then is a good thing,' " wrote one fan who goes by the name Sabre Rattler.
Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com
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Slippery Slope
First they did away with the Pep Band, now with signs. What's next, no cheering when the opposing team fumbles. The liberals that have hijacked the University are all in favor of free speech as long as you agree with their view of the world. I'm sure Thomas Jefferson is spinning in his grave.
Sorry
Sorry...taking a sign into someone's stadium has absolutely zero to do with constitutional rights. It's amazing how badly this stuff is taught in school.
It's still a stupid rule though.
New name needed for stadium
Come one come all to Virginia Cavalier football stadium better known now as 'Speechless Stadium.' Leave all concepts of fun at the stadium entrance. You are only allowed to sit, and not stand in your seat with your hands, arms and legs in the proper seating position. Do not raise your voice in anyway, even when the Cavaliers score. IF you dare make any disparaging remarks about any aspect of the team or the University of Virginia, you will be ejected from the stadium and NEVER allowed back. If you have any questions about these rules, please see the president of the University.