Suit Dismissed After University Changes Policy On Outside Speakers

After the 6th Circuit last year reversed a trial court's dismissal of a claim against Ohio's Miami University challenging its policy on access for outside speakers (see prior posting), the University changed it speaker policy and the parties have now settled the lawsuit . A Stipulation of Dismissal (full text) has been entered. Along with the dismissal in Gilles v. Hodge, (SD OH, June 15, 2009), Miami University filed a letter it had issued to evangelist James Gilles indicating that he-- like others who have not been invited by a student group-- may preach and hand out literature on certain sidewalks on campus, but elsewhere on campus may only engage in consensual personal conversation with individuals. Alliance Defense Fund issued a release Monday applauding the change in University policy on access by outside speakers.