Christian student awarded $80k by university for suppressing conservative opinions.
Southern Illinois University Settles Lawsuit, Pays Student $80,000 for Silencing Conservative Views
Southern Illinois University has reached a settlement with a Christian student, Maggie DeJong, who filed a lawsuit claiming that the school had suppressed her conservative political views. DeJong, a graduate of the art therapy counseling program, alleged that the university punished her after other students complained about her outspoken conservative beliefs.
The lawsuit was settled this week for $80,000, according to DeJong’s legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom.
“Public universities can’t punish students for expressing their political and religious viewpoints. Maggie, like every other student, is protected under the First Amendment to respectfully share her personal beliefs, and university officials were wrong to issue gag orders and silence her speech,” said attorney Mathew Hoffmann of Alliance Defending Freedom in a press release Wednesday.
As part of the settlement, three professors at Southern Illinois University will undergo mandatory First Amendment training. Additionally, the university will revise its student handbook and policies to ensure that students with varying political, religious, and ideological views are welcome in the art therapy program.
In her lawsuit, DeJong claimed that the school launched an investigation and issued three “no contact” orders against her in response to complaints from other students about her conservative views, labeling them as “harmful” and “harassment.”
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DeJong’s legal team explained, “Maggie wasn’t given a chance to defend herself. When they issued the orders, university officials didn’t even tell her what the allegations against her were, and they did not identify a single law, policy, or rule that she had violated. That’s because she hadn’t violated any.”
DeJong, known for speaking up and offering her conservative perspective during class discussions on topics such as race relations, religion, COVID, and censorship, also shared her views on her Instagram account. These included her pro-life stance, her defense of Kyle Rittenhouse, and her criticism of Critical Race Theory.
Following Rittenhouse’s acquittal in 2021, DeJong wrote, “Justice and truth prevailed in the face of lies and deception from the mainstream media trying to twist the narrative. This gives hope to Americans. Praying protection over those jurors who have been threatened their lives.”
Southern Illinois University Chancellor James Minor acknowledged the settlement in a statement, emphasizing the university’s commitment to protecting First Amendment rights and denying any policies that restrict free speech or support censorship.
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