A lawsuit accuses the University of Georgia of inhibiting free speech by limiting demonstrations to two areas on its Athens campus.
The lawsuit, filed last week by the Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of a UGA student group, charges that the university's two areas make up less than 1 percent of the main campus. The "Free Expression Areas," at the Tate Student Center Plaza and the Memorial Hall Plaza, are open for speeches and demonstrations on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to UGA policy. The gatherings are scheduled through the associate dean of students. Any group wanting to gather outside the designated time must get approval from the dean at least 48 days in advance and receive a permit.
ADF, an American conservative Christian nonprofit group, is suing on behalf of the UGA chapter of the Young Americans for Liberty. In March, UGA prohibited the student group from displaying a nation’s debt clock in an area outside one of the free speech zones.
UGA officials declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, which they had not seen, university spokesman Tom Jackson said Monday.
“There is clearly no shortage of expression here at UGA,” Jackson said. “It’s something that we value greatly, as demonstrated by the numerous demonstrations we’ve had at UGA.”
Last week, a group of students held a demonstration protesting a state University System policy banning illegal immigrants from attending some state institutions, which currently includes UGA.
The free speech lawsuit was first reported by Campus Reform, a watchdog group that monitors higher education bias and abuse. The suit names UGA President Jere Morehead and other UGA administrators as defendants in the case.
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