Two University of Texas students face sanctions after refusing to remove two signs supporting Barack Obama from their dorm-room window.

The ruling, handed down by a university disciplinary board, stems from a policy banning the placement of signs in residence-hall windows. Jeff Graves, associate vice president for legal affairs, told the Austin American-Statesman that the policy has been in place for more than 10 years as a means of controlling the appearance of campus buildings. He said he was not aware of any student facing an administrative hearing on the issue in the past.

Both students said they did not plan to remove the signs, which were still posted as of the university’s 7 p.m. deadline to remove them last night. The disciplinary board said the students would not be able to register for spring semester courses if the signs were not removed.

“This is an important free-speech issue,” Connor Kincaid, one of the students, told reporters after the hearing. He said he was prepared to go to court over the signs.

University Democrats said they plan to hand out more signs for students to post, and are prepared to challenge the university policy, along with the College Republicans.