School Sued Over Refusal To Allow Religious Allusion On Donor's Plaque

A lawsuit was filed Wednesday against the Colorado School of Mines by an alumnus (a former member of the school's football team) because the school rejected an inscription he chose for his donor plaque.  The complaint (full text) in Lucas v. Johnson, (D CO, filed 9/30/2015), contends that as part of the school's fundraising campaign for a new Athletic Complex, donors could purchase a personalized nameplate to be placed in the new football locker room.  The donor could place a 3-line quote, along with certain other information, on his or her nameplate.  Alumnus Michael Lucas submitted only one line for his quote: "Colossians 3:23 & Micah 5:9."  The school rejected the quote because if one went to the text of the Colossians reference, it included mention of "the Lord." A school faculty member soliciting contributions told Lucas that his nameplate could not use a quote that contained the words God, Lord, or Jesus, but he could choose another Bible verse that did not contain those words.  Plaintiff contends this policy violates his 1st and 14th Amendment rights.  Alliance Defending Freedom issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.