A university in Pennsylvania is involved in a First Amendment controversy involving the Facebook, an online college community popular among many AU students.
Duquesne University sanctioned sophomore Ryan Miner after he used anti-gay language on Facebook.com, according to Agape Press, a Christian news service.
Miner used Facebook to note his opposition to a proposed Gay-Straight Alliance by creating a group called "Against the Gay-Straight Alliance." In one of his postings, he questioned why the school should have to "tolerate the sub-human actions of people like this on campus," said the Agape Press.
Miner was disciplined by Duquesne for violating the school's anti-discrimination policy, which lists harassment by sexual orientation to be an offense, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Miner refused to comply with the school's prescribed punishment - writing a 10-page paper on the pros and cons of homosexuality - and claimed his First Amendment rights were violated by the school's decision, according to the Tribune-Review. If he loses his appeal, Miner said he is willing to risk expulsion.
Facebook spokesman Chris Hughes said Facebook does not tolerate offensive material.
"Calling any group of people 'sub-human' would qualify as offensive," he said.
The new "Report this person" option on the Web site, which allows users to report offensive material, did not come about as a result of the Miner incident, Hughes said.
Schools can consider Facebook a forum for expression for their students, so administrators can legally take action against students for Facebook activities, according to Hughes.
Liz Best, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, said she disagrees with Facebook's position on the ability of schools to punish students for Facebook posts.
"It's a place for students," she said. "Once you start regulating something, there's no reason for them to stop."
Mindy Michels, the director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center said the GLBTA office's first response is never to try to silence speech, but to educate students and make sure GLBT students feel safe on campus.
Michels said she would want the GLBTA office to be involved in educating the campus on the GLBTA position if a similar situation occurred at AU.
Michels also affirmed the GLBTA office's commitment to free speech.
"There should be lots of opportunities for the free exchange of ideas on campus," she said.
John Kent, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he thinks Miner's comments, while hateful, deserve First Amendment protection.
"To me, it would cross the legal line when it begins to advocate or encourage violence against gays," he said.
