On September 12, 2011, Professor Miller posted on his office door an image of Nathan Fillion in Firefly and a line from an episode: \u201cYou don\u2019t know me, son, so let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you\u2019ll be awake. You\u2019ll be facing me. And you\u2019ll be armed.\u201d On September 16, UWS Chief of Police Lisa A. Walter emailed Miller, notifying him that she had removed the poster and that \u201cit is unacceptable to have postings such as this that refer to killing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amazed that UWS could be so shockingly heavy-handed, Miller replied by email, \u201cRespect liberty and respect my first amendment rights.\u201d Walter responded that \u201cthe poster can be interpreted as a threat by others and\/or could cause those that view it to believe that you are willing\/able to carry out actions similar to what is listed.\u201d Walter also threatened Miller with criminal charges: \u201cIf you choose to repost the article or something similar to it, it will be removed and you could face charges of disorderly conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later on September 16, Miller placed a new poster on his office door in response to Walter\u2019s censorship. The poster read \u201cWarning: Fascism\u201d and included a cartoon image of a silhouetted police officer striking a civilian. The poster mocked, \u201cFascism can cause blunt head trauma and\/or violent death. Keep fascism away from children and pets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Astoundingly, Walter escalated the absurdity. On September 20, Walter emailed Miller again, stating that her office had removed the poster because it \u201cdepicts violence and mentions violence and death.\u201d She added that UWS\u2019s \u201cthreat assessment team,\u201d in consultation with the university general counsel\u2019s office, had decided to have the poster removed, and that this poster was reasonably expected to \u201ccause a material and\/or substantial disruption of school activities and\/or be constituted as a threat.\u201d College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Interim Dean Raymond Hayes has scheduled a meeting with Miller about \u201cthe concerns raised by the campus threat assessment team\u201d for this Friday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Fairy Hardcastle lives. So, does Mal Reynolds, who can (and I trust will) kick her domineering butt. All this sort of fascistic stuff does is encourage ingenious students and faculty to look for ways to subvert the People\u2019s National Security State of Heaven, an effort I applaud, celebrate and support.<\/p>\n