[Reader-list] Why Notice Boards?

[abhayraj at nls.ac.in]

One of the most common questions I’ve received during the course of my
research on anonymous speech and notice boards in universities in
Bangalore, is as to why my study is restricted primarily to notice boards
and doesn’t include online bulletin boards/discussion lists and other
possible mediums for expression of anonymous speech in universities. A few
brief comments in response would be apposite.
At the outset, it is undeniable that a complete study of the notions of
anonymous speech, hate speech, and freedom of speech in universities will
have to include all possible mediums of expression of anonymous speech,
hate speech, etc. The reason I chose to focus on physical notice boards in
this study was influenced by several factors specific to physical notice
boards vis-à-vis other mediums:
1.	Significantly, notice boards that are physically located within a
university campus serve as ideal examples for the notion of
institutionally legitimated forums for expression of speech. While such an
argument may also be mounted for online notice boards, discussion forums,
etc. either physically based from the university computers or even
accessible from within the university, the stronger direct linkage between
physical notice boards and the university legitimization of the contents
thereof provided a compelling reason for an independent study.
2.	Secondly, physical notice boards are a fairly guaranteed component of
most university campuses providing for a ready and uniform source of study
of anonymous speech, while in contrast, most of the Bangalore universities
considered had no clearly established online or other public discussion
forum available.
3.	Physical notice boards in university campuses are generally
non-discriminatory as regards the viewer – that is, apart from the
students themselves, they remain visible as a medium of expression and
communication to faculty, visitors, etc.
4.	While considering the community (students and faculty) within the
university, physical notice boards generally enjoy greater readership than
other media. Also, individual notices on a physical notice board generally
enjoy greater and more constant visibility when compared to expression in
other mediums.
5.	There remains a very practical difficulty with regard to anonymous
speech on notice boards – its difficult to ensure anonymity. Unlike
sending a posting to an online group, or scribbling something on the wall
inside a darkened toilet cubicle, its very likely that someone’s going to
see you putting something up on a public notice board.
6.	Finally, the non-facilitation of anonymous speech on a public notice
board in a university, leaves very few alternate options for expression of
such speech to the same audience and with the same effectiveness. Unlike
online speech, where it is always possible to create an alternate
discussion list or alternate discussion board, such luxury is rarely
existent when it comes to physical notice boards. This consequently, makes
it all the more important as to whether anonymous speech is permitted on a
particular public university notice board or not.

That said, I do hope to gradually expand my focus to include other mediums
of expression in universities in my continuing research, where possible.

I look forward to any comments, suggestions or information. I can be
contacted at abhayraj at nls.ac.in

Abhayraj Naik