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Evangelist Challenges University's Speech Policy

By Howard M. Friedman

On Monday, a traveling Christian evangelist filed a federal lawsuit against Georgia Southern University, challenging its campus speech policy. The complaint (full text) in Bloedorn v. Grube, (SD GA, filed 7/13/2009), alleges that while the University has opened accessible areas on campus for outside speakers, it still requires application for a permit and reserves discretion to approve or disapprove any particular speaker. It also limits the length of the speaker's visit. Plaintiff Benjamin Bloedorn visits campuses 4 to 6 hours per day, for two or three days in a row to engage students in discussion about the existence of God and the teachings of Christianity. Bloedorn was arrested by a campus police officer after he insisted on speaking without applying for a permit. His lawsuit insists that the University's permit policy is an unconstitutional prior restraint on speech. Alliance Defense Fund announced the filing of the lawsuit.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 15, 2009 (boomark / email).