The University has a problem. A free speech problem. And just when it takes a step in the right direction, it lurches back in the wrong direction.
First, the good news. The University has decided to relax restrictions on voter registration drives conducted by partisan groups. In moving away from its position that these drives could jeopardize its nonprofit status, the University has recognized that hedging against such a minor risk is not worth the suppression of political activity.
The ban on partisan registration drives can be chalked up to the sort of administrative snafu that comes from too much lawyering and not enough common sense. But the seizure of the Newman's Day t-shirts clearly isn't in this category.
To say that Newman's Day even approaches the importance of voter registration is laughable. The seized shirts scoff at the health risk involved and actor Paul Newman's efforts to dissociate himself from the ritual a few students take part in every year.
But professor Andrew Appel pointed out in his resolution criticizing the dean, universities, of all places, should be tolerant of speech. What Deignan called a "reasonable extrapolation of the rules" looks more like an effort to keep media crews from showing Princeton students in tasteless tees and a good faith effort at preserving public health. Last we checked, a T-shirt never got anyone drunk and, until last Friday, didn't get anyone on campus in trouble.
Deignan has added that selling anything without approval from the University is against University rules. But it's hard to believe that this is the primary issue.
The University never cracked down on shirt sales before there was outside pressure to stop Newman's Day, making the move look more like punishment for crossing the administration instead of preemptive action to stop unauthorized sales.
Are the shirts tasteless? Yes. Is drinking 24 beers in 24 hours responsible drinking? No.
Should Deignan have had them confiscated becasuse they promoted a drinking game? Absolutely not.
If the University wants to discourage binge drinking — and we think it should — it should stick to fighting the battle with public information campaigns and the alcohol initiative.
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