Temple College: Censorship of Cartoon and Nietzsche Quotation on Professor's Office Door

On October 23, 2008, Temple College professor Kerry Laird was ordered to remove a satirical cartoon from his office door by Interim Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer Mark Smith. Later that day, Laird placed a sign on his office door that said, "Gott ist tot," a Freidrich Nietzsche quote that translates to "God is dead." Smith demanded that Professor Laird remove the quote immediately, stating that the quote "can be considered very controversial and offensive." Smith refused to reverse the censorship even after a faculty member and a student pointed out the double standard being used against Laird's expression. On November 5, however, less than an hour after receiving a letter from FIRE, Temple College President Glenda Barron reversed its censorship. 

Case Materials

• "Episode 133: FIRE's Victory at Temple College," November 10, 2008
• "Victory for Freedom of Speech: Temple College Reverses Censorship of Cartoon, Nietzsche Quote," November 6, 2008: In a victory for freedom of expression, Temple College President Glenda O. Barron has quickly reversed the censorship of a religiously themed cartoon and the Nietzsche quotation "God is dead." After Mark Smith, Interim Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer, forced English Professor Kerry Laird's postings to be removed from his office door, Laird turned to FIRE for help.
• "E-mail from Temple College President Glenda Barron to Faculty and Staff," November 5, 2008
• "FIRE Letter to Temple College President Glenda O. Barron," November 5, 2008
• "E-mail from Mark Smith, Interim Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer to Student Misti Kennair," October 28, 2008
• "E-mail from Student Misti Kennair to Mark Smith, Interim Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer," October 28, 2008
• "E-mail from Lesley B. Keeling-Olson, Interim Director of the Division of Liberal Arts to Professor Laird," October 27, 2008
• "E-mail from Communications Department Chair Erin Latona to Mark Smith, Interim Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer," October 25, 2008
• "Cartoon posted on Professor Laird's door," October 20, 2008

Blog Entries

• "A Head Rolls at Temple College after Censorship of Nietzsche Quotation," by Adam Kissel, November 12, 2008
• "Victory at Temple College Explained in Today’s Podcast," November 10, 2008
• "Victory at Temple College: School Reverses Censorship of Cartoon, Nietzsche Quote," by Adam Kissel, November 6, 2008

Media Coverage

• "College ends ban on Nietzsche quote,"
  by Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, November 7, 2008
• "TC prof strikes a blow for free speech,"
  by Dan Fearson, Temple Daily Telegram, November 6, 2008