Suit Challenges Community College's Speaker and Literature Distribution Rules

The Thomas More Society yesterday filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Ohio challenging the speaker access and literature distribution rules of Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. The suit was brought on behalf  of two students who are members of the college’s Traditional Values Club and the founder of two pro-life groups who is often invited to speak on campuses. The complaint (full text) in Deddens v. Warren County Montgomery County Community College District, (SD OH, filed 7/6/2012) alleges that the College’s policies place broad restrictions on the distribution of materials on campus, require advance approval of speakers with broad discretion in the college president to deny an application, and prohibit recognized student clubs from hosting more than two events per month. The school also prohibits any kinds of signs, whether by sponsors or protesters, at student events. The suit alleges that these rules and policies operate as prior restraints on speech and are overbroad regulations that have a chilling effect on speech.