I wonder if the university will be conducting a similar investigation of Stephanie Rauterkus' computer usage. I wonder if it has, or will, conduct such investigations for the probably hundreds of UAB employees who write blogs or have Facebook pages--some of whom almost certainly are producing them while on the clock.
Somehow I doubt it. That's because overwhelming evidence indicates UAB does not mind if its employees blog--even when they are at work. They just don't want them to write a blog that tells the truth about the sorry state of our justice system--and causes one or more politicos to get their panties bunched.
Stephanie Rauterkus might feel secure in her blogging at the moment. But imagine this scenario: While writing her blog on personal finance, Dr. Rauterkus discovers that someone at a local bank is stealing from her family's account. She writes about the incident and provides tips to help her readers avoid being scammed. Imagine that the bank has higher ups who sit on UAB boards or give to the university--perhaps with the money they stole from Dr. Rauterkus and her family.
What would happen then? History tells us that UAB would launch an "investigation" of Dr. Rauterkus' blogging habits. And instead of producing a press release about her blog, they probably would hand her a pink slip.
At UAB, the First Amendment provides protection only as long as you don't step on some important toes.y
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