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University of Georgia: Police Investigate and Censor "Intolerance" in Residence Halls

Cases

University of Georgia

Case Overview

closed

The University of Georgia (UGA) apparently requires its Resident Assistants to call the police to address violations of UGA's "Acts of Intolerance" policy, which forbids jokes, posters, or comments that are "motivated by prejudice toward a person or group" because of various protected characteristics. The police come, investigate, and censor students under this policy. Between August 1 and September 27, 2010, eight police reports were filed for "acts of intolerance," including the words "Dick and Sideboob" written on the dry erase board of a student's door. The censorship and potential punishment of students for clearly protected speech in such cases is unconstitutional.

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