Women's Studies Rights

Providence, RI: (Sep-26-07) A lawsuit was brought against Rhode Island College alleging it violated the Women's Studies Organization's First Amendment rights. The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit against the university in December 2006 on behalf of the student group. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2005 incident in which the school's Women's Studies Organization placed signs with slogans such as "Keep your rosaries off our ovaries" and "Our bodies, our choices" beside the public school's entrance road. A priest who regularly visits the college saw the signs and told the college's president, who then had campus police remove them.

In a settlement reached, The University will pay $5,000 to the WSO, as well as $6,350 in attorney fees and costs. The college also created a new policy regarding signage placed along the school's roadways. Only roadway displays offering directions to campus events are allowed, and those must be prepared by the college. Sponsoring groups can choose the event's title, however. Under the settlement, the college does not admit any liability for its actions in the 2005 incident. The ACLU said in a statement that it will continue to monitor how the new policy is implemented. [STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER: WOMEN'S RIGHTS]

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Published on Sep-26-07