Ga. Tech sued by conservative students

[Up2Late]

(I think this is what the RW refers to as a "frivolous Lawsuit," but it's the "Collage Republicans" who are bringing them, yet they blame us... ):mad:

Ga. Tech sued by conservative students

Lawsuit claims Safe Space program pushes pro-gay religious views
By ANDREW KEEGAN Apr 13, 6:57 PM

Two Georgia Institute of Technology students have filed a federal lawsuit against the Atlanta university charging that current policies, including a "Safe Space" program dedicated to dispelling anti-gay stereotypes, limit their political and religious speech.

"The Institute threatens punishment ranging from sanction to expulsion for any student or student organization that engages in 'intolerant' speech, expression and behavior," states the lawsuit, filed last month in the Northern District Court of Georgia.

The case was brought by the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based legal group that describes itself as a "Christ-centered" organization dedicated to "defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding and litigation."

The ADF represents Tech students Ruth Malhotra and Orit Sklar. Both are members of the school's College Republicans as well as separate religious student groups. Their lawsuit also contends that conservative student organizations are denied school funding while liberal groups, such as the university’s gay support group, are funded.

(more at link)

<http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=6210>

[Erika]

1. Oh, the poor little victim Christians

whining again. OK.

[judaspriestess]

7. I guess all that in-breeding has finally taken its toll n/t

[SammyBlue]

2. Waaah! Judge, those mean nasty liberals are infringing on my right to

discriminate! Waaah! Those mean, nasty gay people don't want to be told they are going to hell and a evil, horrible and disgusting. . .make them stop! I want my right to be a bas-tard and a re-tard!

JUDGE!!! 1st amendment says I can discriminate against anyone I want! Waaah!!!

What? We censor liberals and they go to the court? FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT!!! LIBERALS CAN'T WIN IN THE POLLS SO THEY USE THE COURTS!!!

:mad: :mad: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :banghead: :banghead: :rant: :rant:

[sakabatou]

3. So they're suing to be able to hate... How thoughtful...

-_- Bastards...

[Jawja]

25. Well I guess when

other GA Tech students decide they've had enough of the religious bigots and start calling them names and shunning them because of their religious choice, they will have a protected right to do so if this frivilous lawsuit wins. :shrug:

[HuffleClaw]

4. disgusting

two bigots looking for a career in 'conservative activism' i guess.

[Newsjock]

5. I guess they're just a bit too busy

... to be defending their preznit by enlisting and going to Eye-rack.

[Erika]

9. Going to Iraq?

Well, that's for those po folks hoping for an education, not us.

[napi21]

6. Oh God, Ga. again! So what funding are the liberal groups

getting that they are not? Could it be "College Dems"? If they're funded by a private group, all the Pubs have to do is get some Private Pub group to fund them!

I live in Ga. Why does all this sh*t hapen here?

[GRLMGC]

8. I'll bet the Republicans have all kinds of private money

At my school, which is in CA, they get all kinds of private donations while we have to scrounge for what we can get.

[kevinbgoode]

13. Because you have a wingnut legislature and a crazy governor

for one thing. . .and a bunch of pseudo-christians desperately looking for someone to blame for the way they've fu*ked up this country.

[Terran1212]

51. I know a lot of people connected to the Governor

I live in the metro area about a 40 minute drive to downtown and I know a lot of real RW people connected to my governor. A friend's dad actually plays racquetball with Perdue every morning and even accidentally hit him, causing him to get stitches. My sister works in DHS under the governor but she's not RW.

[Up2Late]

17. Just lucky I guess.

It's not as bad as it was 20 years ago, but I do wish this sort of crap would end.

[ramapodem]

29. College Repukes are a 527

They raise almost 10 million a year, not all of it ethically. But it means they have a lot of resources the College Dems do not. We are still an arm of the DNC so we are hampered by McCain- Feingold. Each Chapter of the College Repukes sees a share of this pie so they should stop whining. The big debate in the college dems now is whether or not to split from the DNC.

[Kutjara]

10. Why is it that those who sue...

...under the First Amendment always seem to have nothing to say?

[kevinbgoode]

15. There's something inherently wrong with religious expression

which requires people to infringe on others. And I hope someone has enough of a brain to bring that up in their faces in the courtroom and MAKE these people prove that they cannot practice their religion unless they scream at every gay student that they are going to hell.

Then, a decent judge would require someone to research their "deeply-held" religious denominational belief, because I'll bet ya they'll come up with NO history. Meaning, the loudest ones aren't members of any denomination other than claiming they are "christian." A political cover.

[kevinbgoode]

11. Maybe if the wingnut clubs didn't attempt to engage

in intimidation and bullying, they wouldn't have any problem expressing their speech. But then, they wouldn't be wingnuts.

What they can't stand is the idea that, even if they win this lawsuit, it means every satanic club, any hate group can "express" their own intimidating speech and aim it right at these wingnut groups. And it's time to start mounting an offensive. Bullies always buckle when they get a taste of their own medicine.

[BR_Parkway]

12. Malhotra has also filed greivances against professors for 'pushing

their liberal agenda" down her throat.

Looks like she's gonna be a career Reichwinger

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2565913

[kevinbgoode]

14. It will be a rather short career. . .

since the wingnuts are in a national tailspin. But she strikes me as the kind who will reinvent herself for any kind of publicity or paycheck.

[Jawja]

31. Why doesn't she

leave GA Tech then and enroll at Liberty University? She will then hear what she wants to hear and be supported for her views.

If she is not open to the diverse views offered by a University education, then she should get the hell out. Suing a professor for the content or discussion of a course is off the deep end. If she doesn't want to learn, she shouldn't be at Georgia Tech. She chose the school; she is not being forced to go there.

[Up2Late]

16. Here's the "Top Stories" from the ADF "news Center"

School officials ban second-grader from distributing Easter candy containing religious messages
ADF attorneys assist student in defending his constitutional rights

OSU librarian slapped with “sexual harassment” charge for recommending conservative books for freshmen

ADF attorney to be featured on the History Channel

ADF attorneys appeal cloning initiative to Missouri Supreme Court

<http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/main/default.aspx>

And their contact info:

Contact the Alliance Defense Fund <http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/adfresources/contactus.aspx>

Comments (more links at the link above)

Mailing Address:
15333 North Pima Road Suite 165
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Phone: 1-800-TELL-ADF
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.alliancedefensefund.org


General questions or comments

Request for legal intervention

Media inquiries and information.

Request a speaker.

National Litigation Academy information (lawyer litigation training): [e-mail]

Blackstone Legal Fellowship information (law student training): [e-mail]

Case funding assistance: [e-mail]

Faith and Freedom Sunday: [e-mail]

[longship]

18. Poor, poor Christians.

They have to hide in the corners of caves in order to practice their beliefs. What ever can we do to right this grevious wrong? Poor, poor persecuted Christians. They aren't even allowed to practice hate.
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
:sarcasm:

[Erika]

19. The Christian "Movement" is a touch silly

How funny.

[Up2Late]

20. More info on ADF from SourceWatch.org

<http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Defense_Fund>

The Alliance Defense Fund was founded in 1994 by more than 30 Christian ministries, as a response to the American Civil Liberties Union, to defend "family values."

ADF's major focus is strategizing and coordinating with hundreds of lawyers and right-wing groups to defend what they define as "Christian legal issues." Examples include anti-gay cases like Boy Scouts of America v. Dale and Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network, and a national strategy to "protect marriage," following Vermont's decision to allow same-sex civil unions.

People for the American Way notes that ADF's founding groups "are influential members of the Right, they are pro-life and anti-gay and their ultimate goal is to see the law and government of the US enshrined with conservative Christian principles." In 2001, ADF's budget was $15,411,093.<1> <http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=4457>

ADF claims a high success rate in their legal challenges: "God has granted wins in almost three out of four cases decided (John 15:5). Cases that strengthen our position in the battle for religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and traditional family values."<2>

Founders

* Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
* Larry Burkett, founder of Christian Financial Concepts
* Rev. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family
* Rev. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries
* Marlin Maddoux, President of International Christian Media
* Don Wildmon, founder of American Family Association

[kevinbgoode]

52. Yep...and this is one of the legal societies that is a continuing

threat to the freedom and independence of the people of our nation. This organization has gotten its butt whipped, too. . .and they are quite selective about only dealing with "christian" issues that coincide with their sponsor's teachings, of course.

[roguevalley]

21. someone needs to invent a religion where the main sacrament is

cutting off the nuts of college republican whiners.

[FiveGoodMen]

44. I see the light, brother! I'm saved! (Sign me up!)

[onehandle]

22. Ga. Tech students have a long history of gay bashing.

Literally. They "had" a tradition of carrying baseball bats in their vehicles and "hunting" for gays at local parks.

[toopers]

27. I need the link to those "traditions".

I have lived in Georgia all my life, grew up in Athens (Go Dawgs!), so I am sure I would have heard of these traditions. Where is the link to that information?

[Jawja]

32. Yes.

I live in Atlanta right near GA Tech AND the parks. Never heard of students hunting gays in parks with bats.

What is your source?

on edit: I've lived here for a long time.

[onehandle]

33. This was back in the seventies and earlier mostly.

My dad went to Tech in the fifties. When these attacks were in the news he talked about how racist Tech students and faculty were. Piedmont park was a popular social area for gay people back before it was acceptable for them to come out. There were many stories about people being attacked back then, but it was not reported as attacks on gays, but as muggings. Later it was revealed that there were groups of students (and others) who would go "hunting" deviants. I've lived here all of my life. Now Midtown is the center of gay culture here, which really pisses off the "surrounded" right-wingers at Tech. Nowadays, Tech itself has reformed it's racist ways. The student base is much more diverse, but the Bush crowd still rules.

The "hunts" may be over, but there are still a lot of racist Republicans at Tech. I attended a speech by Wesley Clark in 2004. The "Bush 2004 Student Club" was horrible to the people going in and out of the event. Faux News was there sucking up to them.

[Jawja]

38. Thanks for the update!

I didn't move to the area until the early '80's, so I didn't know of earlier incidents.

[stanwyck]

43. They didn't treat their first female students well

either. And this was in the late 60's.
The few female Tech students were singled out by professors according to their looks...asked to stand up and "model" their clothing. The women were shocked to find out their yearbook photos were to be taken in...the men's bathroom next to the urinals. Really. Faculty was openly hostile, often lecturing the class on the inferiority of women...with one or two female students in attendance. And their fellow students picked up on the abuse. And followed suit.
Not such a great legacy for progressive thinking.

[Charlie Brown]

47. My grandma was actually the third woman admitted to 'Tech

She talks about how one Prof unequivocally told her he did think women should attend the university, and that she would fail his class no matter how much effort she put into it. My grandma worked harder to pass the guy's class than any other student, and still only got by with a D.

I can't believe this $hit was still going on in 1958.

[Pab Sungenis]

23. If they win, then every gay student (and tolerant straight)

should go around wearing T-Shirts that say "Nero was right!" and "Too many Christians, too few lions." Let's see how they like it when intolerance cloaked in religion is really tolerated.

[Roland99]

24. I demand my Constitutional Rights to be an ASSHOLE!

:eyes:

[Kber]

26. They don't get that free speech for them MEANS free speech

for all, including pro-civil rights groups.

Personally, I don't think they want the right to free speech - they want the right to a guaranteed audience. Their message doesn't resonate on its own merits, so they sue to, in effect, ramp up the volume.

[xchrom]

28. ok -- this really creeps me out -- but here are some sites

tha give more info about -- beware it's all repuke and pro malhotra.

i post this only to know my enemy better -- and to see the attack on academia by conservatives.

if you are concerned about this -- well, this should send you over the top.


response from malhotra to the georgia tech
http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/actions(boxattop)/Georgia%20page/Schools/Georgia_Tech/GAtechthirdresponsetoMcMath122004.htm

mahotra letter to campusreportonline
http://www.campusreportonline.net/main/articles.php?id=88

a commentary re: feminism -- malhotra is as ignorant and ill conceived as you can imagine.
http://media.yaf.org/commentary/club100_malhotra031306.cfm

[DS1]

30. College Republicans are the biggest assholes ever

At my 'school', they picketed the Vagina Monologues because they said it demeaned women.

When did Republicans ever care about women? Answer: When they tried to empower themselves.

[stanwyck]

35. How can you say that?

Afterall, they're all "fighting the war over here" (which is a little safer for them than "over there", I'll admit).
That statement is, so far, my alltime college GOP favorite. A guy in a bar bragging about his patriotic fervor by "fighting the war over here" -- his answer to why he hadn't enlisted.
The real reason? Like Cheney, "other priorities".
And, just being a trash talker who never walks it like he talks it.

[DS1]

36. I've asked that too

I know the 'leader' of the College Republicans, zzrp for backstory

He's Jewish, well he was Jewish, until he converted to Christianity for purely political reasons, and now he tells anti-semetic jokes for fun

Anyway, I asked him why he hadn't signed up yet, and since I'm a veteran and most people who know me know that, he coughed up the "I'm more effective supporting the troops here" line.

What an asshole.

[stanwyck]

39. Please tell him

(from the mother of a 22 yr. old Marine with two tours in Iraq and one more pending) that my Democratic son "really appreciates" how well he and his buddies are "supporting the troops here" while he's over there dodging IEDs.
Yeah, the troops "over there" have great respect for those big-talkin' Young Republicans.

[DS1]

48. If your 22 year Marine son has a direct message

then I'll go out of my way to deliver it.

/former Marine

[stanwyck]

50. I'll tell him of your

offer. He's out of the country right now -- on a training mission. (NOT in Iraq). Thank you for your service -- my son loves hearing from former Marines.

[Book Lover]

34. Now is the time for the Log Cabin Republicans to be useful (nm)

[stanwyck]

40. Good point.

Those bizarro self-loathing gay Republicans need to muster up some self dignity and respond to their fellow voting bloc.
See? This is what happens when you're not careful about who you align yourself with politically.
Maybe those gay conservatives should find out a little more about the party they support.
Or is their sense of self worth so depleted they don't care if their own party nurtures hatred aimed squarely at...them.

[LiberalFighter]

49. If gay support groups on campus are liberal

what does that make the Log Cabin Republicans?

[Viking12]

37. No wonder they're suing

Just look at how repressive the SafeSpace program is..

http://www.safespace.gatech.edu

Clearly more evidence of the homosexual agenda to imprison all hetero Christians and convert them...

[Up2Late]

42. Looks like a great program, thanks for that.

Anyone know what the "...distinctive sticker or sign, bearing the program logo..." looks like?

I wonder if it's the Blue/Black sticker I've seen around town, which I could never figure out what it stood for?

[Matariki]

41. Who Would Jesus Hate?

[CGrantt57]

45. It's very simple....

You don't like it?

DON'T GO THERE, ASSHOLE!!!

There. Case closed.

[Blue_Tires]

46. oh...she must be making her school REAL proud!

[Up2Late]

53. kick n/t

:kick: