Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 19:7:51 From: owner-news@lists.aclu.org Subject: ACLU News 04-30-2000: Same-Gender Couples, Ohio Motto, More! To: news@lists.aclu.org Reply-To: owner-news@lists.aclu.org
04-30-2000 ACLU Newsfeed -- ACLU News Direct to YOU!
IN THE ACLU NEWSROOM**The Latest News Can Always Be Found At:** http://www.aclu.org/news/pressind.html
* ACLU Urges Boston School to Annul Suspension of Creative Student htp://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n042700a.html
* ACLU Says Congress Must Recognize Speech Implications of Campaign Finance http://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n042600b.html
* Unprecedented Group of Civil Rights, First Amendment Advocates Join ACLU in Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Block Boy Scouts Bias http://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n042600a.html
* ACLU Commends Vermont Legislature's Adoption Of a "Civil Union" Statute for Same-Gender Couples http://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n042500c.html
* Ohio Appeals Court Strikes Down Christian State Motto as Unconstitutional http://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n042500b.html
ACLU Urges Boston School to Annul Suspension of Creative Student
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 27, 2000
BOSTON -- When Boston Latin Academy suspended Charles Carithers for writing a vivid horror story as assigned by his English teacher, the school not only violated the rights of the student, but violated the principles of free expression which the school should be jealously guarding, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts said today.
According to the ACLU, Carithers was so successful in fulfilling his writing assignment that he frightened his English teacher. Instead of getting a high grade for his effort, he got suspended because the teacher "took it personally."
"What kind of a message does it send to students when they are punished based upon the content of their work, when creative, vivid writing becomes the basis for suspension?" said ACLU of Massachusetts executive director John Roberts. "What message does it send students when they must learn to temper their work for fear of retribution from those who are charged to teach them creative composition?"
The ACLU of Massachusetts is calling upon Superintendent Payzant to intercede in the Boston Latin incident by annulling the suspension of Carithers and issuing a clear statement articulating the principles of free expression that could help restore integrity to the Boston school system and protect students from future punishment based upon the content of their academic work.
"If the English teacher cannot handle expressive writing, then such assignments should not be made, or better yet, perhaps the teacher should seek another line of work," Roberts said.
Roberts said that the suspension is symbolic of the over-reaction to the 1999 shooting tragedy at Columbine High School. Educators throughout the country are punishing students for what they say and write. All too often, the academic institution which should be teaching the values of a free society to its students has become not only a censor, but a punisher, disciplining students for engaging in activities which are specifically constitutionally protected.
"Certainly schools should be safe, and students should feel safe in school, but the Columbine-type incidents must be kept in perspective," Roberts said. "It is worth noting that statistics indicate tht students are safer at school then they are in their own communities, in cars, and even in their own homes."
According to the ACLU, zero tolerance for weapons and illegal substances has become zero tolerance for expression in violation of the Student Free Expression Act, upheld in 1996 by the Supreme Judicial Court, which gives Massachusetts' students the broadest free speech rights in the nation.
ACLU Says Congress Must Recognize Speech Implications of Campaign Finance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Contact: DC Media Relations Office media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON -- With citizen involvement in the nation's political processes exploding through the growth of the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly reiterated its traditional appeal to Congress to recognize the free speech implications of efforts to reform campaign finance laws.
In testimony before a Senate panel today, Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU's Washington National Office, said that Congress must not underestimate the impact that new federal regulations of campaign activity would have on political speech in both the "virtual" and "real" worlds.
"This is where the big debate emerges," Murphy said. "At the same time we are seeing hundreds of thousands of Americans newly interested and participating in politics through the Internet, Congress repeatedly attempts to pass legislation that would strike at the core of the freedoms that distinguish us from other democracies around the world."
The leading campaign finance proposals, Murphy said, would restrict the right of individuals and organizations to express their opinions about elected officials and issues through unprecedented limits on speech. They would also chill free expression through burdensome reporting requirements and greatly expanded investigations by the Federal Elections Commission.
Instead of repeatedly trying to adopt restrictive legislaath