Students disciplined for praying can sue

[cali]

(04-09) 16:55 PDT ALAMEDA -- Two students who were threatened with suspension at the College of Alameda after one of them prayed with an ailing teacher in a faculty office can sue the community college district for allegedly violating their freedom of speech, a federal judge has ruled.


The students, Kandy Kyriacou and Ojoma Omaga, said college officials at first told them they were being suspended for "disruptive behavior," then held disciplinary hearings and sent them letters warning that they would be punished if they prayed in a teacher's office again.

The women sued, and U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled in San Francisco that their case could proceed, saying a college student has the right to pray in private outside the classroom.

Although a public college, like other government agencies, must refrain from endorsing religion, Illston said in her March 31 ruling that an objective observer probably wouldn't have thought that the Alameda community college was making any such endorsement just because the teacher bowed her head while the student was praying

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/09/BA3416VVJI.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

good. a totally idiotic move by the administration.

[MADem]

1. It's dumb stuff like this that makes the fundies feel beleagured.

How the hell could anyone with a whit of sense think that scenario constituted an "endorsement?"

What, if a Professor drinks a STARBUCKS coffee in their office, is that an "endorsement" of that product over the Paul Newman stuff you can get a McDonalds?

I agree--idiotic.

[distantearlywarning]

2. I support this ruling.

Religious freedom means two things to me:

1) the freedom to not be forced into practicing someone else's religion (which is why I support rulings against posting the ten commandments in courthouses and the like)

AND

2) the freedom to practice one's religion as one sees fit, so long as it isn't hurting any other (consenting adult human) creature, even in public places (which is why I support this ruling)

[cali]

3. yeah, this is a pretty easy ruling to support

and it's equally easy to label the admin here as morons.

[NeedleCast]

4. Seems Reasonable

Both sides in this fight act stupid sometimes. At least this time, it seems like reason won out.

[sam sarrha]

5. link>> sounds like someone needs an anger management class..

http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2008/10/suit-claims-college-students.html

sometimes just ignoring a situation is best.. till it happens again, then politely ask.. keep a diary with comments, responses/dates times.. remember you are preparing a 'Potential Court Document'. don't fuck up like Derek

i have a situation where serious sexual harassment is happening to a fellow worker, 3 person cell team open floor, abuser is in the next line, 90 employees, management is impotent..

i was a parole officer, these situations can spiral out of control, the guy is in denial, long history.

i told the other person there, we are friends, that i found it distracting when B_______ came over and harassed T___, he is slick she doesn't respond appropriately, even though she doesn't like it, cultural i guess,
i said that i felt obligated to observe what was happening and take notes because this was going to end up in court one way or the other. i expressed my concern over the safety of T___. that slowed it down some

i finally complained to management that by law i was being sexually harassed by it happening because i was so offended by it. if she files or not. he was told to stay away.. now he comes over and whispers in her ear so i cant hear it, but it still distracts me, i do technical work. the other 2 visit a lot... T___ talks all day.. cant work and talk either.. i can do what she does in 3 hours in less than 2 minutes .. all day in 15. then i have to do what she didnt and im handicapped.

lately i have begun to yell at people who come over and YAK YAK YAK with the other 2.. i think i know how Derek flipped out... his mistake was making it a federal case without consulting a lawyer.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. They'll Win, And They Deserve To. What Asinine Behavior On The Part Of The School.

Bunch of morons, those college officials were.

[TahitiNut]

7. "disruptive behavior"?? How do they pray? Do they bite the head off a chicken?

Do they gut a hog and read the entrails? Do they scream and speak in tongues? Do they sacrifice a virgin in a fire pit?

:eyes:

[shadowknows69]

8. When I was in high school, in my fundie days, a group of us had a similar fight

We just wanted a morning prayer meeting in an inconspicuous place. IIRC there was a bit of backlash originally but I think a Supreme Court decision at the time (no surprise, Reagan era)made it legal. I see no problem with it. We did actually have a mandatory "Moment of silence" in homeroom too with morning announcements. I wonder if that's still done anywhere?