Fightingfor their rights
‘Free-speech zones,’areas
designated for students to voice
their opinions, are popping up
on campuses nationwide
jan Montry
Campus/Federal Politics Reporter
When a group of students camped
at Johnson Hall in April 2000 to
protest the University’s resistance to
joining the Worker Rights Consor
tium, nobody told them they were
outside their “free-speech zone.” No
body told them they must move to a
remote part of campus. In fact, it
seemed they recognized only one
free-speech zone: everywhere.
Two years later, free-speech advo
cates and administration officials
around the country are weighing in
on what may be an extensive First
Amendment battle.
The fight is over “free-speech
zones”: small, often remote locations
on some university campuses that
are designated for free speech. The
conflict begins when students are re
stricted to these locations to protest,
demonstrate or speak.
The free-speech zones also raise
an important question for oppo
nents: Are the rest of these campus
es “censorship zones”?
Many universities are either
adopting new free-speech zone
policies or enforcing old rules; how
ever, it is unclear when the idea for
free-speech zones first arose. Some
newspapers report that they were
created in the 1960s to control stu
dent activism, while others say it
was in the 1980s.
Most recently, a group of 12 Flori
da State University students were ar
rested for protesting at the adminis
tration building, which is not a
free-speech zone. Afterward, the
protesters agreed to move their
camp to a small area that the univer
sity had designated.
Florida State, however, is not the
only place where conflict has
broken out.
At the University of Houston, a
legal battle ensued when adminis
tration officials refused to let Pro
Life Cougars, an anti-abortion
group, display pictures of dead fe
tuses in a high-traffic area. After a
judge ruled the university must al
low the display, the administration
created four free-speech zones in
small, low-traffic areas.
Although the number of universi
ties enforcing these policies is unclear,
free-speech zones are currently active
at many locations, including Florida
State, West Virginia University, the
University of Houston and the Univer
sity of Mississippi.
The U.S. Supreme Court has al
ready ruled twice — once in 1957
and again in 1969 — in favor of free
speech on college campuses. In the
1957 ruling, the court wrote: “To im
pose any straightjacket upon the in
tellectual leaders in our colleges and
universities would imperil the future
of our nation.”
But free-speech zones haven’t im
periled the University — yet.
A University policy statement on
Physical Plant, Equipment and Facil
ities states that “all activities to be
held in outdoor campus locations
are subject to prior scheduling
through the Scheduling Officer of
Erb Memorial Union.” The policy
also establishes the EMU Amphithe
ater as a “free-speech plaza” which
may be used at any time for free
speech purposes.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Anne Leavitt said free-speech events
are welcomed, as long as they meet
time, place and manner require
ments, such as not disrupting a class
or blocking access to a building.
“It’s not as though you only have
free speech in one place,” she said.
“We balance free speech with other
Turn to Rights, page 21B
Photo illustration by Adam Jones and Scott Abts Emerald
Adam Jones Emerald
The corner of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street is a hot-dog paradise.
Remembering a frank friend
A plaque on East 13th Avenue
celebrates the life of Cookie
Szakacs, a former University
hot dog vendor and advice-giver
Nicolette Ong
Freelance Reporter
Everyday people walk past it. Some
step over it without realizing it’s there,
while others notice it and wonder who
she is.
Placed in the pavement at the corner
of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street, a
gold-rimmed plaque sits quietly near the
newsstands in memory of Cookie Sza
kacs, the hot dog lady.
The plaque lists the date of her
death — May 28, 1994 — and the
words “She cared.”
Eight years ago, Szakacs was the hot
dog vendor on campus. She was a well
known personality who was both a mer
chant and a friend. After she passed
away, Tim Nally took on her role and car
ried on her tradition.
“I wanted to fill the void that Cookie left
— and keep the students fed,” Nally said.
Szakacs had been selling hot dogs for
about 15 years when she suffered from
an aneurysm at her home at the age of
52. She died instantly.
Still, her legacy continued.
After her death, Cookie’s husband,
Robert Szakacs, 64, tried to carry on her
business. He gave it a try, but things did
n’t work out because he was also working
at the physical plant at the University.
Nally had restaurant experience and
knew the couple. He understood what
Robert was going through and took over
the hot dog business five years ago.
Getting a taste for it
Cookie, who was from Hammond, Ind.,
first came to Oregon with Robert in 1973.
During the first few years, Cookie spent
most of her time taking care of their
three children. As her children grew old
er, Cookie decided to work and found a
job at Roadway Inn as a waitress.
When Cookie was later laid off by
Roadway Inn, she went out looking for a
job again. Then, while she and her hus
band were patronizing a hot dog stall in
Salem, Cookie decided to sell hot dogs,
and Robert made a cart for his wife.
Cookie chose the campus location be
cause the street was always crowded with
people walking by, Robert said. In addi
tion, the University of Oregon Bookstore
was just opposite her stall, which helped
bring in more customers.
“It was an ideal location, where busi
ness should be good,” he said.
At first, Cookie didn’t have a taste for
selling hot dogs, but once she got con
nected with the students, she really liked
it, Robert said.
Maintaining the connection
Nally, too, said it’s easy to get tired of
selling hot dogs, but if there is a connec
tion between the customers and the ven
dor, it can be a lot of fun.
“It’s more than selling hot dogs,” Nally
said. “It’s more like a public relations thing.
“If you didn’t like people, you wouldn’t
like the job. People also won’t like com
ing to an unfriendly place to buy food.”
Cookie was very connected to her
customers, especially the students,
Robert said.
“She sold hot dogs, pop and advice,”
Robert said. “But that was free, of course.
“The kids would come to her when they
had problems and needed a listening ear.”
Like Cookie, Nally has a good rapport
Turn to Friend, page 22B
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