UT Reverses Course, Lifts Sign Ban

Published Oct. 9, 2008 at 10:16 p.m.

Well, that was quick.

The University of Texas-Austin suspended its longstanding rule banning signs in dorm rooms on Thursday, after two students' refusal to take down their political signs sparked community outcry.

On Wednesday, Connor Kincaid and his cousin Blake Kincaid were barred from registering for classes next semester as a penalty for breaking the UT rule.

"They didn't show any signs of backing down whatsoever," said Connor Kincaid.

But the university reversed course Thursday morning. UT President Bill Powers called for the immediate suspension of the rule banning signs in dorm rooms, stopped the disciplinary action against the Kincaids and called together a committee that will examine the sign policy for the long term.

"The rule is going to completely change 180 degrees and we're goign to expressly allow signs in windows," said UT Vice President for Legal Affairs Jeff Graves.

Graves said the swift action was partly due to a significant amount of feedback from UT alumni and other members of the community who learned of the controversy through media reports.

"People were calling us and writing us emails, I was seeing many of them since I've been talking about this," said Graves.

University Democrats and College Republicans, usually on the opposite sides of issues, came together to rally for a policy change.

"It's really cool that we were able to get together on this one issue. And we got together, and we got stuff done," said Daniel Earnest, a member of UT's College Republicans.

The students whose signs sparked the controversy say they're stunned by the university's swift action.

"We didn't want to make a huge deal about it, but I wasn't going to back down either," said Blake Kincaid.

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