'Firefly' and Anti-Fascism Posters Get Professor Threatened with Criminal Charges on University of Wisconsin Campus
A professor has been censored twice, reported to the "threat assessment team," and threatened with criminal charges because of satirical postings on his office door. Campus police at the University of Wisconsin–Stout (UWS) censored theater professor James Miller's poster depicting a quotation from actor Nathan Fillion's character in the television series Firefly, and the police chief threatened Miller with criminal charges for disorderly conduct. After UWS censored his second poster, which stated, "Warning: Fascism," Miller came to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help.
"Colleges and universities are supposed to foster brave and bold environments of freewheeling intellectual inquiry and expression. If a quote from a network science fiction show is a bridge too far, something has gone seriously wrong," FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. "As both President of FIRE and a huge Firefly fan, I call on the chancellor of UW–Stout to reign in his overreaching administration and to restore both free speech and basic common sense."
Read FIRE's September 26, 2011, press release here>>
Update–September 28, 2011: UW-Stout Chancellor Doubles Down on Censorship of 'Firefly' and Anti-Fascism Posters
The chancellor of University of Wisconsin–Stout (UWS) has declared that he will not defend faculty First Amendment rights from censorship. UWS censored theater professor James Miller's poster featuring a line from actor Nathan Fillion's character in Joss Whedon's television series Firefly. Campus police threatened Miller with criminal disorderly conduct charges, and the professor was reported to the "threat assessment team." After UWS censored his second poster, which stated, "Warning: Fascism," Miller came to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help. In the midst of FIRE's national campaign to restore faculty rights at UWS, the university is standing by its absurd claim that both posters were "implied threat[s] of violence."
Update–October 4, 2011: Chancellor Folds after Censorship of 'Firefly' and Anti-Fascism Posters
Under pressure from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and actors Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin, the University of Wisconsin–Stout has reversed its censorship of theater professor James Miller's poster featuring a line from Fillion's character in Joss Whedon's television series Firefly.
"FIRE is pleased that UW-Stout has decided to abandon its previous position and reopen the door to free speech and common sense on its campus," FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. "This victory would not have been possible without the outpouring of support from people across the country on news sites, blogs, and social media. I would especially like to thank Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Neil Gaiman, and my fellow Firefly fans."
Read FIRE's victory press release here>>