OU SAE to sue University of Oklahoma and the University President

[marshall]

66. I wondered about him telling them to pack their bags and get out

I assume the university owns the premises where they live. The university where I work owns some but does not own others. I assume we can't tell people to get out of property we don't own.

The thing that I think is arguable about this is that the president acted so quickly and decisively, especially in regards to the two leaders who were expelled. He expressed personal disgust with them and said he hoped they left the city of Norman. Since he was speaking for the university, and the university is a government institution, there are Constitutional issues that are different than if this was a private institution.

Still I think the president made the best move he could in the circumstances. He could either act swiftly against the fraternity and its leaders, and perhaps open himself and the university up to litigation (which universities are loathe to do even if it is likely the university will win out), or he could have acted very cautiously and in the process ignited public furor and no doubt brought a great deal of national scrutiny and protest to his campus. He was really in a no-win situation and took the course of least resistance (at least legally).