Memo 2 - Addressing a Policy Problem

November 7, 2023

Payton Marvin

Balancing Free Speech with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A recent policy problem that has been debated among public administrators is defining

where the line of free speech crosses the threshold into creating an unsafe workplace.

As public administrators we want to encourage and display diversity, equity, and

inclusion. We want to encourage diverse people to share different thoughts and

opinions in order to become a more inclusive and advanced workforce. Yet there is a

point at which this speech can infringe upon another person’s safety and wellbeing in

the workplace if the opinions being shared are overly political and controversial.

This policy problem ties into the theory in public administration called the

politics-administration dichotomy. This theory encompasses the debate over the extent

to which elected officials and public administrators should remain separate. Public

administrators sharing extreme political opinions could be seen as politics interfering

with the execution of policy.

An example of this problem is shown in the following real life situation:

In 2020, an incoming Auburn professor tweeted,

 “F*** every single cop… They are instruments of violence on behalf of capital.”

His tweet was in response to a situation that occurred between police officers

and protesters in New York City. There was public outcry to fire the professor.

This happened almost exactly one year after Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill to

better protect student and faculty free speech on college campuses. So here lies

the issue:

- Is it constitutionally and ethically right for Auburn University to fire the

professor, or not?

- Did the professor's use of social media to express his beliefs change his

ability to effectively teach students?

Root Causes of this Problem

Employees often speak publicly on social and political issues. There is a balance

between their first amendment rights and their duty to their job as a public administrator.

Particularly since the social movements sparked by the death of George Floyd in 2020,

the rise of social media in the 21st century, and the recent deepended political divide in

America, people want to speak out for what they believe in. This can be a positive tool

used to create much needed social awareness and change. However, if you are a public
administrator you have to understand that whatever personal opinions are shared could

affect your ability to serve other people.

People want to post about their personal political opinions on social media and talk

about them in the office, but when someone on the other side strongly disagrees this

could create a toxic work environment.

Proposing a Workable Solution

It is easy for policies to get brushed under the rug, but when a problem occurs, we need

those guidelines in the workplace to to keep people on the same page and hold them

accountable. Updating the Expression and Demonstration Policy, and Policy on

Communication with State and Federal Officials to keep up with the changing social

landscape would help this issue. There is always going to be some gray area here, but

having a well equipped and educated Human Resources team and policies that address

this issue that every employee agrees to will help hold everyone to a shared standard

and facilitate healthy dialogue.

References:

“Alabama Governor Signs Bill into Law to Better Protect Student and Faculty Free Speech

Rights.” The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, 7 June 2019,

www.thefire.org/news/alabama-governor-signs-bill-law-better-protect-student-and-faculty-free-sp

eech-rights.
Expression and Demonstration Policy - Sharepoint,

sites.auburn.edu/admin/universitypolicies/Policies/Expression_and_Demonstration_Policy.pdf.

Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Ross, Sean. “Auburn Professor: ‘F*** Every Single Cop.’” Yellowhammer News, 31 July 2020,

yellowhammernews.com/auburn-professor-f-every-single-cop/.