I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The ACLU of Michigan has sent a letter to the University of Michigan urging them to change a school policy that forbids canvassing for political candidates or causes in the university’s dormitory halls. You can see the letter here (PDF).
The current policy allows only candidates themselves to canvass in residence hall, not their advocates. It also allows for non-partisan voter registration drives. But it prohibits students from canvassing for candidates or causes in the dorms, which the ACLU says is a violation of the First Amendment:
“The dialogue that we share with our neighbors and peers makes the University a vibrant, stimulating community,” said Bennett Stein of the U-M Undergraduate ACLU chapter. “The current policy infringed upon our rights as students in 2008 and, if not changed immediately, will prove equally detrimental to campaign efforts in 2010.”
The University housing code states that students who violate the no-canvassing policy could be charged with criminal trespass and excluded from any university residence hall. If a student organization violates this policy, it can be fined any amount determined by the Housing Administration.
“College is, for many, the first chance to vote and the first chance to engage in the democratic process,” said Andrew Selbst, co-chair of the U-M Law School ACLU Chapter. “Instead of censoring core political speech, the administration should be encouraging lifelong civic engagement by allowing students to experience the political process for themselves.”
If the policy is not changed, there will likely be a federal lawsuit filed to get the policy overturned.
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