Another Victory for a College Student and the First Amendment

 

In California, Joyce contacted us about an online Physical Anthropology course at her community college.  Part of the syllabus for the course stated:

 

Please do not turn the discussion board into a religious debate area. If you do, you will be warned once, if you do not comply, you will be dropped from the class. This class entirely focuses on evolution, if you are in conflict with this you must decide if you can deal with that or not, on your own time. Do not waste my time or other students by trying to insinuate it into the class discussions. [Emphasis added.]

 

As part of an assignment, the professor asked students to write about their experience and/or knowledge of evolutionary theory. Joyce stated on the courses online message board that she did not believe in evolution and that she believes humans were created by a Creator and cited Bible verses that supported her beliefs. In response, the professor removed Joyces comments and sent her an email that said:

 

The[re] is no place for biblical quotes in a science class. Please keep them off the discussion board . . . If I see more bible quotes, they will be forwarded to the dean and you will be dropped. Make sure you are crystal clear on this.

 

In addition, the professor sent an email to students which said:

 

Please no Bible, Koran, Torah, or any other sacred mythology in the discussion board. Anthro 1 is not the place for it. Promoting your religion in the classroom is illegal, If I allow it, we are both breaking the law. Any such material appearing on the discussion board will be deleted [and] uncounted as it is not what is required as per your syllabus. Further transgressions will be dealt with through administration and expulsion may result.  [Emphasis added.]

 

We sent a letter to the college demanding that the professor be instructed that student religious expression in response to class assignments, such as Joyces comment regarding her understanding of evolution, is protected by the First Amendment. In response, the colleges attorney discussed the First Amendment rights of students with the professor and will use the situation to remind other faculty members about what the First Amendment requires. The attorney also stated that the professors syllabus will be revised in light of our concerns.

 

In North Carolina, Patricia contacted us about her right to hold Bible studies and prayer meetings in the common areas of her HUD, low income senior apartment complex.  After several residents repeatedly complained about her groups use of a community room, the management corporation overseeing the complex suspended the use of the room for religious activities.

 

We wrote a demand letter to the corporations new incoming president explaining that denying religious groups the right to use common areas of housing complexes on the same basis as other groups violates the federal Fair Housing Act.  In response to our letter, the president drafted content-neutral facilities use policies for all of the corporations housing complexes that will ensure that religious groups are treated the same as other groups. The president assured us that Patricias Bible study will be able to use the community room without incident.