UC Berkeley settles lawsuit over treatment of conservative speakers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The University of California at Berkeley on Monday settled a free speech lawsuit accusing the school of discriminating against speakers with conservative views.

Under the settlement filed with the federal court in San Francisco, the university will modify its procedures for handling “major events,” which typically draw hundreds of people, and agreed not to charge “security” fees for a variety of activities, including lectures and speeches.

It will also pay $70,000 to cover legal costs of the Berkeley College Republicans and the Tennessee-based Young America’s Foundation, which filed the lawsuit in April 2017.

The settlement followed an April 27 decision by U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney letting the plaintiffs challenge what they called the university’s “secret” or unfairly restrictive policies toward conservative speakers.

-snip-

U.S. DECEMBER 3, 2018 / 4:15 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Jonathan Stempel
3 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-lawsuit-ucberkeley/uc-berkeley-settles-lawsuit-over-treatment-of-conservative-speakers-idUSKBN1O22K4

[yuiyoshida]

1. I really, really

hate the GOP and the party of Trump. oh and, go CAL BEARS!

[The Liberal Lion]

2. This is absurd

[Gore1FL]

3. I wish they would have fought this. nt

[rockfordfile]

4. That's messed up

What the hell is Tennessee young America's Foundation? sounds like another fascist right-wing group that hates America.

[Lokilooney]

7. It's about as messed up as

A religious organisation loosing tax except status if they want to get into politics. Universities take the taxpayer money from every conceivable political group, they can't be seen taking sides.

[groundloop]

5. 'bout time for some minority and gay rights groups to insist on speaking at Liberty U.

[Igel]

6. Private versus public.

People have tried to make money paid to students under federal programs somehow university income, as opposed to direct state funding. It's usually not worked out, because the money's paid to students based on student needs and it would be like denying shoppers WIC because they shopped at Walmart instead of Costco.