Officials warn faculty, staff of political candor
Regulations prohibit political activities during work hours
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: Campus News
With midterm elections coming up on Tuesday, university officials reminded faculty and staff members of the UW System policy on campaign procedures and politically based activities.
Both System and university regulations prohibit faculty and staff members from engaging in political activities "during working hours." However, Andy Soll, vice chancellor of business and student services, said this definition can be interpreted differently.
"In general, (the regulations apply) when you're at the university on campus in the role of whatever your job is," Soll said. "There's judgment involved; it usually depends on when you'd typically be (on campus) in a work capacity."
In the same way, System regulations state that student organizations that receive student segregated fees may not contribute money to political candidates or campaigns.
Soll said that if a student organization receives student segregated fees, but wishes to contribute to a campaign, it must do outside fundraising for such a purpose. However, none of the politically based organizations on campus receive state funds.
Junior Tom Burton, chairman of Eau Claire's College Republicans, said the organization does not apply for student segregated fees and that posters and yard signs must be sponsored by a recognized student organization and approved by the Student Senate office.
In addition, yard signs can only be up from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., meaning organization members must put up and take down the signs every day, Burton said.
Soll said that, while he has not seen or heard of any major violations of the System guidelines, any such violations would typically be dealt with as any other professional misconduct.
"We certainly don't want to discourage people from being politically active, but they have to recognize that their role as a university employee can be potentially compromised."
Both System and university regulations prohibit faculty and staff members from engaging in political activities "during working hours." However, Andy Soll, vice chancellor of business and student services, said this definition can be interpreted differently.
"In general, (the regulations apply) when you're at the university on campus in the role of whatever your job is," Soll said. "There's judgment involved; it usually depends on when you'd typically be (on campus) in a work capacity."
In the same way, System regulations state that student organizations that receive student segregated fees may not contribute money to political candidates or campaigns.
Soll said that if a student organization receives student segregated fees, but wishes to contribute to a campaign, it must do outside fundraising for such a purpose. However, none of the politically based organizations on campus receive state funds.
Junior Tom Burton, chairman of Eau Claire's College Republicans, said the organization does not apply for student segregated fees and that posters and yard signs must be sponsored by a recognized student organization and approved by the Student Senate office.
In addition, yard signs can only be up from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., meaning organization members must put up and take down the signs every day, Burton said.
Soll said that, while he has not seen or heard of any major violations of the System guidelines, any such violations would typically be dealt with as any other professional misconduct.
"We certainly don't want to discourage people from being politically active, but they have to recognize that their role as a university employee can be potentially compromised."
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