Over last summer, a Branding Iron investigation uncovered, and multiple sources confirmed that, a Coe Library administrator told a supervisor within Studio Coe and the Coe Student Innovation Center (CSIC) to remove LGBTQ+ pride material from those spaces.
Disclaimer: Many sources for this article have asked to remain anonymous in fear of retaliation from the University of Wyoming administration.
The supervisor was informed before the Fall 2022 semester began, LGBTQ+ pride materials could not be displayed in Studio Coe and CSIC by a top Coe Library administrator because it would allegedly violate building code regulations.
Upon further pushback from the supervisor, the administrator said that if LGBTQ+ flags and materials could be displayed, it would force the Library to display other viewpoints including “Nazi and confederate flags and materials.”
The administrator finally admitted in the argument that LGBTQ+ pride material had to be removed to not offend legislators and top university donors that would visit Coe Library.
In early October, a CSIC supervisor informed employees in a staff meeting that Associate Dean of Libraries Cassandra Kvenild issued an updated September 2022 policy in which all artwork, signs, decor, and posters must be approved by the Assistant Dean of User Services or the Associate Dean of Libraries.
The policy means that any window decals, flags, signs, and posters must be approved before being allowed to be on display. The policy further prohibits any outside pamphlets, leaflets, and handouts from being allowed in the library.
The Branding Iron could not confirm nor deny whether this new policy impacted the re-posting of LGBTQ+ flag, window decals, and other pride materials in mid-October.
Sources confirmed the updated policy came as a result of the earlier incident. The CSIC supervisor asked that employees not do anything to risk their jobs. Many employees in CSIC and Studio Coe were upset with the policy and for the reason behind it.
The Branding Iron approached several staff members in CSIC and Studio Coe who declined to be interviewed for this article in fear of retaliation.
As of October 2022, the university administration is investigating the incidents.
