Dorm doors used for political expression

Sophomore Lucas Elliott dislikes President George W. Bush, and he makes sure everyone who walks by his dorm in Ashton-Johnston knows it. Elliott is using his dorm door as a way of letting people know his political opinions this election year. \nHe doesn't know exactly how many anti-Bush bumper stickers are on his door, but there are "enough (stickers) that there is very little empty space on the door," he said.\nElliott said he hasn't had anyone tear his stickers down or try to vandalize his door. He has put up a survey on his dry erase board to gather people's opinions about his political display.\n"No one has flat-out said that they don't like it," Elliott said. "I put up a poll to see who likes it and who doesn't. I've definitely had some people say they like it." \nElliott said he thinks initially some people are taken aback by the number of stickers on his door.\n"I think at first they're kind of surprised because there are so many (bumper stickers)," he said. "I think people find it thought-provoking that someone went to so much trouble to cover their door with political propaganda." \nUnlike some other methods of making his opinion known, Elliott said, putting his opinion on his door allows for face-to-face discussion about his political opinion. Other ways, such as creating a Web site or hanging up flyers, don't allow for people to question his viewpoint, he said.\n"I think it's important to let people that know me personally ... know my views," he said. \nElliott's resident assistant, junior Nick Kimmel, doesn't see anything wrong with Elliott's door. Kimmel said neither the Resident Halls Association nor Residential Programs and Services have contacted him about regulating students' rights to political display. He said he's leaving it up to the residents to do what they want. \nLike Kimmel, RPS has not tried to control the use of dorms for expressing political views. \nRPS Director Bob Weith said his organization has not had any discussion this year of regulating the ways students communicate their political opinions. \n"I believe that (it) is a free speech issue," Weith said. \nHe said its concern is if students are hanging flammable items on their doors. As stated on the RPS Web site, "Room doors must be kept free of flammable materials, particularly loose paper. Doors should not be wrapped or covered with flammable materials."\nWeith said RPS prefers students use each dorm's public posting board, but mostly for information relevant to the dorm and its residents. Overall, Weith said he believes the underlying issue is free speech.\n"I think the First Amendment is real important," he said. "It doesn't surprise me that any sides are attempting to be assertive in their views." \nElliott expressed a similar position. \n"I think whether it's anti-Bush, anti-Kerry or anti-politics ... people should be allowed to do this on their personal space," he said. "I'm not trying to offend anyone; I just think it's important that we be allowed to do this." \n-- Contact Weekend copy editor Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu.