Spring Break
Service learning restriction challenged
ACLJ reprimands university for considering ban on religious projects
Erik Borg
Issue date: 11/4/04 Section: Campus News
Service Learning Director Donald Mowry, who enacted the ban, was not immediately willing to share his thoughts on how FIRE's or ACLJ's responses might effect the University Senate decision.
"I'm not a lawyer so I can't even begin to analyze, digest or critique the arguments in that brief, so I don't care to comment," he said.
Syverson hopes members of University Senate won't take ACLJ's ruling lightly when coming to a decision on the ban.
"A well respected organization is saying, 'Whoa! Do you know what you're getting into here?" he said. "I'm hoping people will look at this letter from ACLJ and say, 'If we pass this, we will be violating free speech'."
One deterrent that Syverson recognizes may keep people from seeing it his way is the pressure that the System's legal department is putting on the university to comply with its desire to uphold the ban.
According to Syverson, the System's legal department will not represent the university in any case involving the issue if it goes against their wishes on the matter.
Similarly, they will represent the university if it remains in accordance.
But Syverson sees views this as a recipe for a lawsuit.
"If we do pass it, we're going to get sued and the university is going to be fighting against freedom of speech," he said. "And that's just not the kind of university we should have.
"I'm not a lawyer so I can't even begin to analyze, digest or critique the arguments in that brief, so I don't care to comment," he said.
Syverson hopes members of University Senate won't take ACLJ's ruling lightly when coming to a decision on the ban.
"A well respected organization is saying, 'Whoa! Do you know what you're getting into here?" he said. "I'm hoping people will look at this letter from ACLJ and say, 'If we pass this, we will be violating free speech'."
One deterrent that Syverson recognizes may keep people from seeing it his way is the pressure that the System's legal department is putting on the university to comply with its desire to uphold the ban.
According to Syverson, the System's legal department will not represent the university in any case involving the issue if it goes against their wishes on the matter.
Similarly, they will represent the university if it remains in accordance.
But Syverson sees views this as a recipe for a lawsuit.
"If we do pass it, we're going to get sued and the university is going to be fighting against freedom of speech," he said. "And that's just not the kind of university we should have.