LSU refuses to drop racist student, professors take matters into their own hands

[Ex Lurker]

Sudent's racist video rant went viral, LSU refused to drop him.

Alyssa Johnson
@JohnsonA_lsu
If @LSU
won’t take action, we as professors can. Keeping a list of names and if I see them enrolled in my course, I will drop them. It’s not just free speech, it’s hate speech and it’s a threat to student safety. #safespace #BlackLivesMatter
Quote Tweet
LSU
@LSU
· 16h
Replying to @afroliviaa
To be clear, we at LSU condemn hate and bigotry in any form, including racially incendiary remarks. As a state university, however, we are subject to constitutional limitation on our ability to take action in response to free speech. More: https://lsu.edu/together/

Link to tweet

[Loki Liesmith]

1. This won't work and they will be sued into oblivion.

[LisaL]

3. Oh for sure.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. If she does that, she will run afoul of the First Amendment.

She is working for a government agency, and her retaliation is based on the content of speech that she does not like.

Also, what is the legal definition of "hate speech"? Not the dictionary definition, the legal definition.

IANAL.

I'm not familiar with what is going on here. I'm at work, and I'll have to look at the link in the 0P later.

[LisaL]

4. Sure will.

She can't drop a student because she doesn't like student's speech outside of her class. If that is allowed, what is to stop a conservative professor (they do exist) from dropping a student because of liberal speech?

[Demsrule86]

5. No, colleges can and have kicked kids out or rescinded their acceptance based on hate speech.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Do you have links?

I'm not being snarky. Seriously, I'd like to see the details and how those incidents played out.

Thanks.

[LisaL]

7. And schools have been sued for that.

Granted, this is high school, but I fail to see why state university would be immune from such a lawsuit.
"DANVILLE — Three years after a high school student was accused of showing a video some claimed was racist and insensitive when he ran for student body president, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District has settled a $665,000 lawsuit and will issue him an apology."
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/07/east-bay-student-in-terrorists-video-settles-with-school-district-over-free-speech-lawsuit/

[Ex Lurker]

8. I believe harvard was one of them NT

[dalton99a]

9. Yep

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/18/us/harvard-rescind-admission/index.html
Harvard rescinded admission for racist comments. It wasn't the first time
By Eric Levenson, CNN
Updated 1:29 PM ET, Tue June 18, 2019

[blitzen]

14. And Marquette (Private) just did it to a lacrosse recruit...

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2020/06/02/marquette-rescinds-offer-lacrosse-player-over-george-floyd-snapchat/5311865002/

[exboyfil]

18. I would say someone coming in on a sports scholarship or recruitment

could also be held to a higher standard than a general admission. You can be kicked off the team for things that regular students would not be removed from school for, and, since you presence on the team was a condition of the acceptance, the reason for admission is no longer valid.

Also as mentioned elsewhere, Marquette is a private school. I wonder what Hillsdale or Liberty University would accept or not accept?

[blitzen]

21. Good point. I imagine they would have done it regardless, since they are private...

The first news reports I saw on this didn't mention the lacrosse at all.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. Harvard is a private school. They can do that. NT

[11 Bravo]

24. Harvard's private. LSU is a state school.

This is a really bad idea.

[Happy Hoosier]

12. Not true for State Universities.

Believe me, I wish it were not true, but my wife, a Professor at a state university, has run in to this. In short, unless a student causes an actual disruption, they cannot be sanctioned for hate speech.

Of course, the lesson for other students is to ensure that such behavior causes disruptions...

[dalton99a]

16. They could complain that their learning environment is being disrupted and demand action.

[Loki Liesmith]

22. State school

[backscatter712]

25. I'm fine with forcing this shit to sue, then dragging out the proceedings.

By the time the lawsuit's over, he'll be in his 30's.

Maybe it's not legal, but they can make it so painful for this racist chud to fight it that he'll have to go to another school... If they'll accept him...

[roamer65]

10. I'm sure LSU is reviewing their student code of conduct policy right now for this case.

[blitzen]

15. My two cents, as an LSU prof...

I think you're right, they will do what they can legally. The LSU administration has been quite rational, e.g., in their COVID-19 response, and I think they'll act appropriately here.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

11. This has me smiling! This professor was an undergrad at the college where I worked.

I am so very proud of her and the many former students I had the pleasure to know while working there.

[exboyfil]

17. Not her decision

And it makes the student out to be a martyr. Not the mention the lawsuit possibilities.

Good luck getting into medical school though. The internet is forever, and I got to think such an attitude can be a legitimate admissions hurdle.

[Blue_Tires]

19. Only one thing is guaranteed to get you kicked off a college campus

and that's nonpayment of tuition/fees.

[TeamPooka]

20. You've heard of the Gentleman C? Meet the Racist F.

[Ex Lurker]

23. Social media makes it easier to identify the racists

until they figure out not to post anything about their beliefs on the internet. In future I suspect we will see more stealth racists who don't leave a trail of breadcrumbs.

[GulfCoast66]

26. Unless what he did broke the law I don't see how LSU has any choice but to allow him to stay

It’s a state school. A private school can of course use speech content as a reason to kick someone out. A state school not so much.

The 1st Amendment protects racist speech same as all other.