In Arizona, Another Move to Mute Free Speech on College Campuses

From ADF:

In Arizona, Another Move to Mute Free Speech on College Campuses

BY ALAN SEARS POSTED JAN 24, 2012 0 COMMENTS AND 5 REACTIONS
Our Christian brother Ray Arneson finds his mission fields close to home. For two years, for instance, he made regular visits to the campus of South Mountain Community College, in his home town of Mesa, Arizona, to peacefully share the Good News with any students and other passers-by who showed an interest in hearing more about Jesus.

Last year, he graciously alerted a campus official to his intention to visit the campus again – but this time, the official threw a flag on the play. He told Arneson he would have to abide by the school’s solicitation policy, which is not exactly a Constitutional model for encouraging free speech. The policy requires individuals to pay at least a $50 fee, buy insurance, and submit a request form with proof of that insurance 14 days before visiting campus.

All of which flies in the face of some pretty fundamental constitutional protections… so Arneson has enlisted the help of the Alliance Defense Fund. Thanks to your support, ADF has been able to remind the Maricopa County community colleges – the largest community college district in the United States – of the contents of the First Amendment.

Even after some gentle legal prodding, the officials failed to change their policy, so ADF attorneys asked a federal court to suspend the college system’s enforcement of their solicitation policy, pending the outcome of an ADF lawsuit.

“Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, which means it can’t come with a price tag and a burdensome waiting period,” says ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Jonathan Scruggs. “Christians visiting public college campuses shouldn’t be deterred from expressing their beliefs because of cumbersome, unconstitutional policies.”

Chris Stovall of Phoenix, one of nearly 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance, is serving as local counsel in the lawsuit. Please be in prayer for Chris and other dedicated Christian lawyers across the U.S. as they work to defend the right of all Americans to hear and speak the Truth. And join me in giving thanks for faithful believers like Ray Arneson, who are committed to sharing the Gospel in their communities.


AUTHOR: ALAN SEARS