03 August, 2017
The memorial display consists of almost 3,000 flags for every life lost in the 2001 attack, and a sign that says "Young Americans for Freedom", the name of the student group that sets up the display, as well as a sign that says "9/11, Never Forget".
University officials say they respect the concept of the memorial for September 11, but that all activities that fall under their new policy on lawn displays, among other things, are being affected.
"People absolutely have to have a right to their own opinions, but this does not come with a right to be shielded from opposing ideas, especially in an environment dedicated to the learning, sharing and developing of new ideas", the letter said, according to the Morning News.
"That's not free speech".
In an open letter to SMU President R. Gerald Turner posted to Facebook on Tuesday, leaders of several student groups across the ideological spectrum, including the Young Americans for Freedom, Mustangs for Life, College Democrats, College Republicans and the Feminist Equality Movement, joined in decrying the new policy.
The students believe that complaints about pro-choice and anti-abortion displays a year ago made university officials skittish, and prompted them to turn to overzealous measures that swept up all displays.
But the university remained firm that the Dallas Hall lawn remained off-limits for the memorial "because it is used by campus community members as a place for studying, outdoor classes and a variety of University events throughout the year". "Creating the need for a different, yet still prominent, display area".
SMU also appeared to backpedal on their remarks, commenting: "The policy has been further updated to better reflect this balance and to remove the poor wording regarding triggering or harmful messages". But the students aren't buying this line, charging that the ban on "lawn displays" that was supposed to reduce "triggering" incidents on campus is really aimed at stopping pro-life groups from erecting displays and stirring debate.
Stories about SMU saying the 9/11 memorial had to move to a less central area of the Dallas campus - as well as the reason why - hit the news cycle Tuesday.
Every year, commemorating the memory of 9/11 is controversial on some college campuses.
"The University respects the right of all members of the SMU community to express their opinions", states the policy in a July 24 email sent to YAF Chairman Grant Wolf, a senior double majoring in finance and music. That language - regarding messages that are triggering or harmful - was added earlier in July and had not gone through the appropriate approval process.
In response to the backlash the school is now facing, SMU has changed the wording of the policy, but the policy itself is the same.
The new location, MoMac Park, is an open and centrally located space along Bishop Boulevard, the most prominent drive on campus.
"SMU respects the rights of all campus community members to express their opinions, as well as their right to be free from coercion and harassment", the school wrote, in part.
They say they're not singling out the Young Americans for Freedom display and that they are committed to respecting free speech.
