University Statement on Lynn Cheney Incident

There is much public discussion at the moment about a recent incident at the University of Maryland in which three students interrupted a talk by Lynne Cheney, the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney. Much of the discussion has been based on rumor and misinformation. The university would like to correct the record.

Audience members at the televised event on Feb. 29 had been asked to submit all questions in writing to keep order. After the event with Mrs. Cheney was over, University police approached the three students who had shouted out questions and comments during the presentation. Police took their names and contact information and informed them that their actions would be reported to the university's Office of Judicial Programs. They were not charged, and they were not escorted from the premises, but they were asked to leave.

The University of Maryland strongly upholds the rights of free expression for all students, and its code of conduct includes specific language permitting heckling and booing of speakers, so long as the activities do not interfere with the rights of the speaker to be heard.

The University's judicial programs office is the appropriate place to determine the facts of a case and ensure that the rights of all involved - the speaker as well as those who interrupt the speaker - are protected.

In this case, the university's director of student discipline interviewed one of the students involved and determined that none of the students had violated the Student Code of Conduct or Mrs. Cheney's rights. All three students have been informed that no further action will be taken.