Preacher Loses Challenge To University's Speaker Rules

In McGlone v. Cheek, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18820 (ED TN,  Feb. 15, 2012), a Tennessee federal district court upheld rules at the University of Tennessee that permit outside speakers on campus only if they are sponsored by a student organization. The rule was challenged by a Christian preacher who wanted to share his religious beliefs at various outdoor areas on campus, but did not have student organizational sponsorship.  The court held that the University's rules were reasonable content-neutral restrictions on use of a limited public forum. The court also rejected vagueness and overbreadth challenges.