ADF files free speech lawsuit against Tech

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a lawsuit March 16 on behalf of two current students against Institute officials claiming that their First Amendment right to free speech has been violated. ADF, a national Christian legal defense fund, filed the suit on behalf of Ruth Malhotra, a fourth-year Public Policy major, and Orit Sklar, a third-year Civil Engineering major.

The following administrators were named as defendants in the suit: Institute President Wayne Clough; Gail DiSabatino, former Dean of Students; Danielle McDonald, assistant dean of Student Involvement; Stephanie Ray, associate dean and director of Diversity Programs and Michael Black, director of Housing.

The lawsuit claims that the Institute actively censors disfavored expression on campus and that the Tech environment “squelches” First Amendment freedoms through policies outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Housing Community Guide.

The lawsuit also challenges the fact that mandatory Student Activity Fees cannot be used to fund political or religious activities.

Amelia Gambino, interim assistant vice president of Institute Communications and Public Affairs, said that Tech could not comment on the lawsuit, however, she said free speech was encouraged on campus.

“We want to make sure that everyone knows that we certainly take the civil rights of students very seriously. We encourage and have a history of open dialogue on campus. In general we want organizations to express themselves and be very active on campus. We don’t encourage violence and intolerance of others,” Gambino said.

Not all students agree with Malhotra and Sklar. “As a relatively conservative student, I don’t believe that the majority of students at Tech, whether liberal or conservative, would agree that the institute limits free speech on this campus. Instead, I see Tech as a very accepting environment that allows for all students-regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or political viewpoint-to speak freely on the issues that they feel most passionate about,” said David Andersen, undergraduate student body president.

The lawsuit also claims that the school engages in a “scheme” of indoctrination of individuals into particular religious beliefs through the Safe Space program.

Safe Space is an optional training program on campus whose purpose, according to their website, is to “increase the visible presence of student and adult allies who can help to shape a school culture that is accepting of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or any other difference.”

“I just feel that this is an unnecessary step. I believe all parties just wish everyone could have worked together on something before taking a legal step. [Safe Space] is not at all endorsing any [religion]. I do not believe it is religious indoctrination,” said Scott McKee, a second-year Public Policy major and the student coordinator of Safe Space.

“At an Institute as diverse as Tech, programs like Safe Space teach people to be open minded and accepting of other’s differences,” Andersen said.

Sklar and Malhotra are both members of the Georgia Tech College Republicans (GTCR). GTCR recently passed a resolution in support of the lawsuit that states they “applaud these members for their courageous actions and supports their efforts....”

This campus issue has gained attention at the national level as it was mentioned in a recent LA Times article about Christians not accepting tolerance policies.

A complete copy of the complaint can be found on ADF’s website, www.telladf.org/UserDocs/
GeorgiaTechComplaint.pdf.