Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
Author Message
SumOfAllFears Offline
Grim Reaper of Misguided Liberal Souls
*

Posts: 18,213
Joined: Nov 2008
Reputation: 58
I Root For: America
Location:
Post: #1
California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution



Quote:A California college student who was blocked last year from handing out copies of the Constitution gave his school a lesson in civics and the law, winning a $50,000 settlement and an agreement to revise its speech codes.

Robert Van Tuinen, 26, settled with Modesto Junior College just five months after his run-in with school officials on Sept. 17 – National Constitution Day. Van Tuinen said he’s more excited about getting the school to revise its speech codes, which previously confined the First Amendment to a small area students had to sign up to use.

“They were maintaining an unconstitutional speech code, and now any of my fellow students can go out and exercise their right to free speech,” Van Tuinen, an Army veteran who grew up in Modesto and now studies photography, told FoxNews.com.

Back in September, FoxNews.com aired the video Van Tuinen took of his confrontation with school officials.

In the video, Van Tuinen is confronted by an unidentified campus police officer within minutes of passing out the pamphlets. When he protests, he is told “there are rules.”

“But do you know what this is?” he asks. “What are the rules? Why are the rules tied to my free speech?”

Van Tuinen explains that he wants to start an organization called Young Americans for Liberty.

“That’s fine, but if you’re going to start an organization like that you have to go through the rigamarole,” the police officer tells him.

"It was a tense situation," Van Tuinen told FoxNews.com. "To be told I can't do something as basic as handing out the Constitution was frustrating."

Eventually, the police officer escorts Van Tuinen into an administrative office, where an unidentified woman shows him a binder with rules she says govern free speech on campus. She explains that there is a designated place “in front of the student center, in that little cement area,” where free expression is allowed, but then notes that two people are already using it.

The episode caught the attention of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which, together with a Washington law firm, took his case to federal court in the Eastern District of California. But by then, school officials had already started backpedaling.

"In the case of the YouTube video, it does not appear that the student was disrupting the orderly operations of the college and therefore we are looking into the incident," Modesto Junior College Marketing and Public Relations officer Linda Hoile told FoxNews.com at the time.

On Monday, the school settled the case by agreeing to revise its policies to allow free speech in open areas across campus and pay Van Tuinen $50,000. Although much of it will go to legal fees, Van Tuinen said he'll happily use what's left to to pay off other bills.

“FIRE is very pleased that Robert Van Tuinen and Modesto Junior College have reached this settlement — and that Modesto Junior College students will now be able to exercise their First Amendment rights across campus,” said FIRE President Greg Lukianoff.
02-25-2014 10:39 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


maximus Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 24,680
Joined: Nov 2008
Reputation: 1280
I Root For: MEMPHIS
Location:
Post: #2
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
Awesome

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
02-25-2014 10:45 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Kronke Offline
Banned

Posts: 29,379
Joined: Apr 2010
I Root For: Arsenal / StL
Location: Missouri
Post: #3
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
"Free speech area"

California is such a joke.
02-26-2014 12:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
john01992 Offline
Former ESPNer still in recovery mode

Posts: 16,277
Joined: Jul 2013
I Root For: John0 out!!!!
Location: The Worst P5 Program
Post: #4
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 12:12 AM)Kronke Wrote:  "Free speech area"

California is such a joke.

free speech zones on college campuses are not limited to just cali.
texas tech
UNC greensboro
marquette

have all had major court cases over them
(This post was last modified: 02-26-2014 01:02 AM by john01992.)
02-26-2014 01:02 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Fitbud Offline
Banned

Posts: 30,983
Joined: Dec 2011
I Root For: PAC 12
Location:
Post: #5
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-25-2014 10:39 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution



Quote:A California college student who was blocked last year from handing out copies of the Constitution gave his school a lesson in civics and the law, winning a $50,000 settlement and an agreement to revise its speech codes.

Robert Van Tuinen, 26, settled with Modesto Junior College just five months after his run-in with school officials on Sept. 17 – National Constitution Day. Van Tuinen said he’s more excited about getting the school to revise its speech codes, which previously confined the First Amendment to a small area students had to sign up to use.

“They were maintaining an unconstitutional speech code, and now any of my fellow students can go out and exercise their right to free speech,” Van Tuinen, an Army veteran who grew up in Modesto and now studies photography, told FoxNews.com.

Back in September, FoxNews.com aired the video Van Tuinen took of his confrontation with school officials.

In the video, Van Tuinen is confronted by an unidentified campus police officer within minutes of passing out the pamphlets. When he protests, he is told “there are rules.”

“But do you know what this is?” he asks. “What are the rules? Why are the rules tied to my free speech?”

Van Tuinen explains that he wants to start an organization called Young Americans for Liberty.

“That’s fine, but if you’re going to start an organization like that you have to go through the rigamarole,” the police officer tells him.

"It was a tense situation," Van Tuinen told FoxNews.com. "To be told I can't do something as basic as handing out the Constitution was frustrating."

Eventually, the police officer escorts Van Tuinen into an administrative office, where an unidentified woman shows him a binder with rules she says govern free speech on campus. She explains that there is a designated place “in front of the student center, in that little cement area,” where free expression is allowed, but then notes that two people are already using it.

The episode caught the attention of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which, together with a Washington law firm, took his case to federal court in the Eastern District of California. But by then, school officials had already started backpedaling.

"In the case of the YouTube video, it does not appear that the student was disrupting the orderly operations of the college and therefore we are looking into the incident," Modesto Junior College Marketing and Public Relations officer Linda Hoile told FoxNews.com at the time.

On Monday, the school settled the case by agreeing to revise its policies to allow free speech in open areas across campus and pay Van Tuinen $50,000. Although much of it will go to legal fees, Van Tuinen said he'll happily use what's left to to pay off other bills.

“FIRE is very pleased that Robert Van Tuinen and Modesto Junior College have reached this settlement — and that Modesto Junior College students will now be able to exercise their First Amendment rights across campus,” said FIRE President Greg Lukianoff.

Awesome
02-26-2014 01:07 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ncbeta Offline
Suffering from trolliosis
*

Posts: 6,124
Joined: Sep 2011
Reputation: 163
I Root For: ECU
Location: Tennessee, maybe KY.
Post: #6
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
Reminds of those "Photography is not a crime" videos.
02-26-2014 01:37 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


smn1256 Offline
I miss Tripster
*

Posts: 28,878
Joined: Apr 2008
Reputation: 337
I Root For: Lower taxes
Location: North Mexico
Post: #7
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
Agree with the school changing its rules. Agree with the school paying the kid's legal fees. Disagree with the school giving any additional money other than legal fees; no money should have gone into the kid's pocket.

BTW, where was the ACLU in all this? They should have been all over this from day one, I mean, isn't the Constitution the very thing they exist to protect?
02-26-2014 02:07 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
DrTorch Offline
Proved mach and GTS to be liars
*

Posts: 35,887
Joined: Jun 2002
Reputation: 201
I Root For: ASU, BGSU
Location:

CrappiesDonatorsBalance of Power Contest
Post: #8
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
FIRE is a great organization.
02-26-2014 08:45 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Machiavelli Offline
Back to Reality. Oh there goes Gravity

Posts: 25,357
Joined: Apr 2006
I Root For: BGSU
Location:
Post: #9
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
A great question SMN. You would think the ACLU would be all over this.
02-26-2014 08:47 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
QuestionSocratic Offline
Banned

Posts: 8,276
Joined: Jul 2013
I Root For: Buffalo
Location:
Post: #10
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 08:47 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  A great question SMN. You would think the ACLU would be all over this.

I gained a great deal of respect for the ACLU during the Skokie parades but they have been co-opted by the far left and is now selective in its outrage.
02-26-2014 09:02 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
VA49er Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 29,000
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation: 952
I Root For: Charlotte
Location:
Post: #11
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?
02-26-2014 09:03 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


SumOfAllFears Offline
Grim Reaper of Misguided Liberal Souls
*

Posts: 18,213
Joined: Nov 2008
Reputation: 58
I Root For: America
Location:
Post: #12
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:03 AM)VA49er Wrote:  What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?

I'm guessing it is like a place in Russia or China where people can gather and say whatever they want critical of the gov't. No?
02-26-2014 09:11 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
VA49er Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 29,000
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation: 952
I Root For: Charlotte
Location:
Post: #13
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:11 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:03 AM)VA49er Wrote:  What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?

I'm guessing it is like a place in Russia or China where people can gather and say whatever they want critical of the gov't. No?

But this is the US. Free speech is supposed to be everywhere, not just some random spot deemed a "Free Speech Zone". I've heard of free expression tunnels/walls, etc on college campuses before but not a free speech zone.
02-26-2014 09:14 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Smaug Offline
Happnin' Dude
*

Posts: 61,211
Joined: Mar 2005
Reputation: 842
I Root For: Dragons
Location: The Lonely Mountain

BlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #14
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 01:02 AM)john01992 Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 12:12 AM)Kronke Wrote:  "Free speech area"

California is such a joke.

free speech zones on college campuses are not limited to just cali.
texas tech
UNC greensboro
marquette

have all had major court cases over them

Yes, and they're absurd there, too.
02-26-2014 09:24 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
SumOfAllFears Offline
Grim Reaper of Misguided Liberal Souls
*

Posts: 18,213
Joined: Nov 2008
Reputation: 58
I Root For: America
Location:
Post: #15
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:14 AM)VA49er Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:11 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:03 AM)VA49er Wrote:  What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?

I'm guessing it is like a place in Russia or China where people can gather and say whatever they want critical of the gov't. No?

But this is the US. Free speech is supposed to be everywhere, not just some random spot deemed a "Free Speech Zone". I've heard of free expression tunnels/walls, etc on college campuses before but not a free speech zone.

You are talking about the area designated by liberal university officials behind the building, next to the delivery entrance by the dumpster, designed to quell discontent with official decisions? That zone?
02-26-2014 09:26 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
LSU04_08 Offline
Deo Vindice
*

Posts: 18,020
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation: 234
I Root For: The Deplorables
Location: Bon Temps, La
Post: #16
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:14 AM)VA49er Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:11 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:03 AM)VA49er Wrote:  What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?

I'm guessing it is like a place in Russia or China where people can gather and say whatever they want critical of the gov't. No?

But this is the US. Free speech is supposed to be everywhere, not just some random spot deemed a "Free Speech Zone". I've heard of free expression tunnels/walls, etc on college campuses before but not a free speech zone.

Welcome to Shitifornia where the demoshits are overflowing like a clogged septic tank...
02-26-2014 09:26 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


LSU04_08 Offline
Deo Vindice
*

Posts: 18,020
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation: 234
I Root For: The Deplorables
Location: Bon Temps, La
Post: #17
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:26 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:14 AM)VA49er Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:11 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  
(02-26-2014 09:03 AM)VA49er Wrote:  What the heck is a "Free Speech Zone"?

I'm guessing it is like a place in Russia or China where people can gather and say whatever they want critical of the gov't. No?

But this is the US. Free speech is supposed to be everywhere, not just some random spot deemed a "Free Speech Zone". I've heard of free expression tunnels/walls, etc on college campuses before but not a free speech zone.

You are talking about the area designated by liberal university officials behind the building, next to the delivery entrance by the dumpster, designed to quell discontent with official decisions? That zone?

03-yes
02-26-2014 09:27 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
HeartOfDixie Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 24,689
Joined: Oct 2013
Reputation: 945
I Root For: Alabama
Location: Huntsville AL
Post: #18
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
I have to admit, if I were a college kid I'd care more about the $50k.
02-26-2014 09:41 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Machiavelli Offline
Back to Reality. Oh there goes Gravity

Posts: 25,357
Joined: Apr 2006
I Root For: BGSU
Location:
Post: #19
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
The ACLU helped Hush Bimbaugh so something may not be all it's cracked up to be here. The ACLU should be non partisan. As I said they helped out Mr. Oxycotin in a big way. If they were partisan then it would not have shaked out that way. SMN has a good question. I would be interested in why they didn't dip their toe into the water.
(This post was last modified: 02-26-2014 09:47 AM by Machiavelli.)
02-26-2014 09:47 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
LSU04_08 Offline
Deo Vindice
*

Posts: 18,020
Joined: Jul 2013
Reputation: 234
I Root For: The Deplorables
Location: Bon Temps, La
Post: #20
RE: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution
(02-26-2014 09:47 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  The ACLU helped Hush Bimbaugh so something may not be all it's cracked up to be here. The ACLU should be non partisan. As I said they helped out Mr. Oxycotin in a big way. If they were partisan then it would not have shaked out that way. SMN has a good question. I would be interested in why they didn't dip their toe into the water.

I wish UMF08 could see this.
02-26-2014 09:51 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.