Members of Arizona State University's Students for Life group were at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today defending their right to express their views on campus.
In 2005, the group requested permission to display pro-life materials in several speech zones, but officials said they could only have one. The administration relented after receiving a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). Then the school insisted the club purchase liability insurance, despite the fact there was no written policy forcing them to do so. ADF filed a lawsuit shortly after.
Heather Gebelin Hacker, litigation staff counsel for ADF, said pro-life students should not have a price tag placed on expression of their beliefs.
"It is unconstitutional to require any student group to 'purchase' their First Amendment right to free speech by requiring them to buy an insurance policy," she said. "We need a bright-line rule from the court on whether or not these policies are legal, because it does have implications for students at all universities."