Georgia Institute of Technology has agreed to change its policy regarding funding for student events after a student group sued the school for its decision to withhold funding for events that it disagrees politically with.
The lawyers said students pay mandatory student activity fees which its student government association uses to fund student group events on campus. They said that when Students for Life requested funding for the event with King, the student government questioned the group about the content and viewpoints that King may present.
The student government told the group that their request had to be denied because King has been involved in religious ministries and her life was “inherently religious,” which would make it difficult to separate from an event about civil rights and abortion, ADF said.
The ADF lawyers said in an update on Thursday that the university has now agreed to pay $50,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees, as well as revise its policies to ensure that funding decisions are made using “viewpoint-neutral decisionmaking criteria,” as part of a settlement agreement.
Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins said in a statement that they are hopeful that Georgia Tech’s decision to change its policy will set an example for other universities in the country to “uphold all students’ constitutional rights.”
“Courageous student leaders across the nation face real opposition from their schools because they choose to stand up for the defenseless and peacefully educate their fellow students about protecting the preborn,” Hawkins said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech said in a statement to The Epoch Times that: “The First Amendment guarantees of free expression are an essential cornerstone to the advancement of knowledge. Georgia Tech is pleased with the policies, as they reflect our commitment to upholding these important principles.”
