A college in Illinois has reached a settlement with a conservative, Christian art student who had raised concerns about censorship and discrimination in response to complaints from other students, marking a landmark victory for free expression and tolerance.
The settlement includes a required training course on preserving free expression for three professors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), thanks to the Alliance Defending Freedom’s (ADF) efforts.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, SIUE administration has agreed to update its student handbook and policies to promote an atmosphere that welcomes participants in the art therapy program from a range of political, religious, and ideological positions. The college will also shell up $80,000 to win the lawsuit.
Maggie DeJong, a student, struggled after the school issued three “no-contact orders,” essentially preventing her from speaking with classmates who claimed her political beliefs constituted “harassment” and “discrimination.” This is the first legal success she has had.
DeJong regularly participated in class debates on controversial subjects, contributing a conservative perspective on problems like censorship, COVID-19, religion, and racial relations. However, several of her social media statements on abortion and underfunding the police drew criticism from her colleagues, which led to the enforcement of the no-contact orders.
DeJong’s defense of Kyle Rittenhouse and critique of critical race theory, according to ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhoffer, provoked hostility from her classmates and eventually led to university-mandated limitations that limited her ability to participate in class debates.
In addition, the institution urged her classmates to report any “harmful rhetoric” without giving her a chance to defend her viewpoints, according to ADF.
SIUE has agreed to evaluate school procedures in response to the settlement in order to guarantee that students have strong defenses against no-contact orders while safeguarding their free expression rights.
In a statement, SIUE reaffirmed its steadfast dedication to defending First Amendment rights while highlighting the fact that the college does not impose rules that prohibit expression or support speech restrictions. The institution acknowledged the difficulties in striking this fine balance between allowing free expression and providing a secure learning environment.
The ongoing discussion over the limits of free expression was also noted by SIUE, particularly in the digital era when social media frequently intersects with such issues.
ADF Legal Counsel Mathew Hoffmann emphasized the need of protecting students’ political and religious convictions in a news release, claiming that public colleges cannot punish students for peacefully expressing their ideas.
Christian students and university administrators have been involved in several controversial litigation of a similar nature in recent years. For instance, after a student was purportedly punished for “hate speech” with allusions to Christian scripture, America First Legal sued County College of Morris (CCM) and its Dean of Students.