In July 2012, members
of Cowboys for Life at Oklahoma State University sought to reserve space for pro-life
displays near the Student Union, a highly traveled area of campus that student
groups regularly use for such events. OSU officials denied the club’s request
because, the officials claimed, the displays might offend some people. Instead,
the university relegated the displays to a less-traveled area of campus and
then required Cowboys for Life to place “warning” signs around the displays.
When members of the
group tried to distribute literature near the Student Union, OSU officials
ordered the students to leave the area or post additional “warning” signs.
After the event, officials coordinated and launched an investigation that
claimed the students had violated the Student Code of Conduct.
Last year, on behalf
of the students involved, the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal
lawsuit against the university after officials there took numerous actions to
impede and disrupt the group’s pro-life displays on campus. |
Travis Barham |
The university has now agreed to a settlement which
means pro-life student groups will no longer face disruption of their pro-life
events and displays at Oklahoma State University.
“Universities should
promote the free exchange of ideas, not exile views they don’t like to isolated
places on campus,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Litigation Staff Counsel
Travis Barham. “This settlement ensures that Oklahoma State officials will not
have free reign to censor students.” As part of the settlement, OSU agreed to update its policies and practices to respect students’ constitutionally protected freedom of expression and will treat Cowboys for Life the same as all other recognized student organizations. OSU also officially rescinded any verbal warnings against the group, made clear that the group no longer faces any investigations for supposedly violating the Student Code of Conduct, and paid for the group’s attorneys’ fees.
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