The head librarian of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers was suspended for 30 days without pay for ordering public-service staff not to wear “Proud to be an American” stickers that she thought might offend foreign students. Library Director Kathy Hoeth, who will return to work October 26, will lose $6,200 of her annual $81,000 salary.
“As unintentional as it may have been on your part to suppress freedom of speech and that of academic freedom, it was a decision which did exactly that,” FGCU Provost Brad Bartel wrote September 25 in a disciplinary letter, the Fort Myers News-Press reported September 26.
In a statement of apology issued September 19, Hoeth admitted poor judgment in the decision, which had provoked widespread public outrage.
University President William Merwin described Hoeth as a top performer. “This action, were it not for the terrorists bombings and outpouring of patriotic zeal, probably would not have been viewed in quite the same way,” he said. “But it’s a First Amendment rights issue. This was a mistake.”
Hoeth waived her right to appeal the discipline.
Posted October 1, 2001.