Description: Grand Valley State University in Michigan had a policy that limited speech to two small zones that make up less than 0.03 percent of the campus. University officials told members of the Turning Point USA chapter at the school that they couldn’t talk to other students about the First Amendment and have them write messages on a large beach ball dubbed a “free speech ball” because the members weren’t standing in one of the two zones. Campus police and administrators told the students they would be arrested for trespassing if they didn’t cease their expressive activities.
Grand Valley State University revises expressive activity policy
Wednesday, Mar 1, 2017
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer regarding Grand Valley State University’s decision to revise its expressive activity policies after Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Turning Point USA, a student group:
“All students should be able to exercise their constitutionally protected freedom to peacefully share their viewpoints with other students. The policy revisions Grand Valley State officials implemented in the wake of our lawsuit allow this to take place, and we commend them for respecting the First Amendment freedoms of their students rather than engage in prolonged litigation.”
In light of the settlement agreement between the parties, a stipulation of dismissal filed Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Turning Point USA at Grand Valley State University v. The Trustees of Grand Valley State University effectively ends the lawsuit.
- Pronunciation guide: Langhofer (LANG’-hoff-ur)