UPDATED 12/21: Student Free Speech Rights Upheld

Today we received excellent news that the First Amendment rights of our client, Mr. Tucker, who is a graduate student at the University of North Texas (UNT), had been vindicated.  Mr. Tucker had taken an online class through UNT, and was given access to an online message board.  Although initially opened for class discussion, students frequently used the message board for off-topic, non-curricular purposes, wishing each other certain holiday greetings, including Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and other similar greetings.  As we understand, Mr. Tucker also expressed his holiday wishes to his colleagues:  Merry Christmas to everyone and may the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless all of you.  However, the professor immediately removed Mr. Tuckers entry.  The professor further advised our client that, although he could express his holiday cheer to his colleagues, he could only do so without overt religious references.

We immediately sent a demand letter on behalf of our client to UNTs Office of General Counsel.  UNT quickly responded to our letter, agreeing that our clients message should not have been censored based on the given facts.  We were granted assurances that UNT did not promote such discriminatory policies, and that UNT would investigate the matter and educate its staff as to the constitutional rights that students possess in its public fora, such as its online message boards.

Updated 12/21/2007:  I wanted to share with you the letter we received from Mr. Tucker.  Without your support we couldn't have achieved this victory.

Subject: Thank You ACLJ
From:  Charles Tucker
 
Dear Mr. Sekulow, 
   
I just want to thank you for all that you and your team did for me and believers everywhere regarding the University of North Texas first amendment/censorship incident that occurred several days ago.

Kris Wenberg kept me up to date every step of the way and phoned me this morning with the wonderful news about being vindicated. UNT's office of General Counsel responded that they agreed that my message "Merry Christmas to everyone and may the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you all" should not have been censored and granted assurances that UNT would investigate the matter, educate its staff as to the constitutional rights that students possess in its public foray, such as its online boards.

You and your team of professionals at ACLJ should be commended for your knowledge and expertise in a very important area of "Christians Rights."  I just want to bless the ACLJ with a word from the Lord:

James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. NIV

PS Merry CHRISTmas