From:

Tracy W Meyers
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 9:12 PM
To: Kimberly A Luse
Cc: Jordan A Hill; Thressea H Boyd; William J McKinney; Tricia A Hale
Subject: Re: Clothesline Project
Thanks Kimberly:
I read this policy. This policy only discusses political campaigning. It doesn't
address the policy that the Provost and President spoke to me and Dr. George
about this summer. They both stated that we can not use our email (or any other
state resource) for political purposes. I had a two hour conversation with the
provost. Dr. George sent a letter to the Governor and the General Assembly. He
wasn't campaigning or doing anything stated in the policy you cited. I explained to
the provost I write letters and sign petitions all the time as the Director of the
WGST program using my VSU email account to advocate on behalf of battered
women and girls, gays, lesbians, and other oppressed or abused populations. The
provost told me I need to use my g-mail account and do that as a private citizen
because using state resources for such political endeavors was against the BOR
policy. This is what was told to Dr. George as well. Therefore, the Clothesline
Project, being political like writing a letter to the Governor asking him to support
a bill for battered women (which I have done) apparently is not allowed according
to some BOR policy (other than the one you cited). In August, when I had an hour
long conversation about this with the president he stated he would ask the BOR
attorney for the policy but I haven't received it yet. It is that policy that we are
waiting to see but thank you for sending this to me.


From: Kimberly A Luse
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 8:56 PM
To: Tracy W Meyers
Cc: Jordan A Hill; Thressea H Boyd; William J McKinney; Tricia A Hale
Subject: Re: Clothesline Project

Good evening,
Here is the policy. It is listed on the public website. I am sorry you've had such
difficulty locating it. Once you read it I am sure it will help you understand that
your work with your program is a completely separate issue than their definition
of political activity. So the really wonderful news is you can move forward with
these projects. If I can be helpful please let me know how. I think the work you
do is critically important.

http://www.usg.edu/hr/manual/conflict_of_interest

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 21, 2014, at 8:27 PM, "Tracy W Meyers" <tmeyers@valdosta.edu> wrote:
The Clothesline Project as well as all of our feminist activism is just as political as
asking folks to sign a petition, a protest march, or other social justice action. The
Women's Studies programs were born out of feminist political movements. The
slogan "the personal is political" was coined in the 1960s when the feminist
started their political actions against violence against women. The BOR policy has
not been produced so I can't speak to what it includes other then what I have
been told by both the president and provost. I will say that the clothesline project
is no less political then Dr. George's social justice action. If he rule us that we
cannot use state resources for political purposes then the Clothesline Project is
political and therefore can not be hung up.

Sent from my Windows Phone

From: Kimberly A Luse

Sent: 10/21/2014 8:16 PM
To: Tracy W Meyers
Cc: Jordan A Hill; Thressea H Boyd; William J McKinney; Tricia A Hale
Subject: Re: Clothesline Project
Good evening,
The policies for the Board of Regents are public and listed on their website.

These are two unrelated issues. I want to be sure that the journalists for The
Spectator not get confused so their reporting is accurate. For the record, the
administration has always been and continues to be staunch supporters of the
Clothesline Project. The focus should remain on the positive impact it has for
raising awareness for these important issues.
It would be irresponsible not to keep that focus or to erroneously report that the
President, Provost, or anyone in administration would not support this good
work. I hope this is helpful.
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 21, 2014, at 8:00 PM, "Tracy W Meyers" <tmeyers@valdosta.edu> wrote:
Kimberly Sorry to inform you that your information is not accurate. I was told in
July by Dr. Rogers that I as the Director of the Womens and Gender Studies
program could not use state resources for political purposes. The Provost and
President, who I also talked to informed me that was a BOR policy. In August, the
President stated he would ask the attorney for the BOR to give us a copy of the
policy. We have yet to see the policy. These conversations with the Provost and
President came about after Dr. George sent an email (using his VSU account) to
the Governor and General Assembly per a social justice action. The Womens and
Gender Studies' Clothesline Project as well as our Handprint project (and all our
work) are political social justice actions. We can't use state resources (per the
president and provost) for political purposes therefore we can't hang up our
clothesline project. If you have any questions please feel free to connect me.

Tracy Woodard
Sent from my Windows Phone

From: Kimberly A Luse

Sent: 10/21/2014 7:47 PM
To: Jordan A Hill
Cc: Thressea H Boyd; William J McKinney; Tricia A Hale; Tracy W Meyers
Subject: FW: Clothesline Project
Good evening, Jordan,
I hope your week is going well.

I am in receipt of your request, below, from Ms. Boyd. I wanted to reach out as it
appears from your question that you think that the administration has intervened
in The Clothesline Project. Is that correct?

If it is, I can assure you that no one in administration has been involved in any
decision related to this important event. Ive actually copied Dr. Meyers on this
email as well, as she is the Director of the area that supports this endeavor each
year.

The Clothesline Project is one of several very important events that will occur at
VSU to raise awareness for prevention of abuse and sexual assault. Ive also
copied Dr. Tricia Hale, Chair of the Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force, so you
may learn from her all that this group is doing to raise awareness and point to
pathways for moving forward with respect for women and everyone here on our
campus. President McKinney is an advocate and supporter of all of these efforts.

I wanted to be certain your information is accurate. Please let me know if I can be
of any further assistance.

--
Dr. Kimberly Luse
Chief of Staff | Presidents Office
Valdosta State University | 1500 N. Patterson St. | Valdosta, GA 31698
www.valdosta.edu | (229) 333-5952 office | (229) 333-7400 fax

From: Thressea H Boyd

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 7:17 PM
To: Kimberly A Luse Subject: F
wd: Clothesline Project
From: Jordan A Hill <jorhill@valdosta.edu>
Date: October 21, 2014 at 4:03:51 PM EDT
To: Thressea H Boyd <thboyd@valdosta.edu>
Subject: Clothesline Project
Good afternoon Ms. Boyd,
I'm looking for someone to speak with from the university who made the decision
that The Clothesline Project could not take place on campus due to it being
political. Do you know who I would be able to speak with about that?

Thank you,
Jordan Hill

Opinions Editor, The Spectator
Valdosta State University
http://vsuspectator.com