Harper v. McArthur
Description: Cameron University student Daniel Harper complained that the university forced students to pre-register their speech with college officials and comply with vague speech codes to exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms.
Cameron Univ. responds to student speech complaint
Attorney sound bites: David Hacker | Kevin Theriot
“Public universities are supposed to be the marketplace of ideas. We commend Cameron University for quickly and responsibly taking action to foster that environment on its campus,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Hacker.
“Through this collaboration, Daniel and the university have demonstrated their mutual desire to respect the constitutionally protected freedoms of university students,” added ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot.
“I am thankful this issue was brought to our attention, and we were able to make appropriate modifications to bring a policy up to date,” said John McArthur, president of Cameron University. “The university’s objective is for its students to receive an effective education through a positive experience at Cameron University, both in and outside the classroom. Administrators frequently face the challenge of managing this objective while at the same time respecting existing policies as well as competing religious and expressive intentions and goals.”
The lawsuit, Harper v. McArthur, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, challenged the university’s policies and practices under the U.S. Constitution and the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act. Brently Olsson, one of nearly 2,500 attorneys allied with ADF, served as local counsel for Harper.
- Voluntary dismissal: Harper v. McArthur
- Pronunciation guide: Theriot (TAIR’-ee-oh)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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ABOUT Kevin Theriot
Kevin Theriot serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is a key member of the Center for Life Team working to defend pro-life laws and speech and protect medical rights of conscience. He has litigated cases in the areas of religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family. Theriot is admitted to the bar in eight states, the U.S. Supreme Court, and numerous other federal courts of appeal and district courts. Theriot received his law degree from Vanderbilt University and has been litigating First Amendment issues since 1993.