California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution

SmashMouth · 02-25-2014, 09:22 PM

A California college student who was blocked last year from handing out copies of the Constitution gave his school a lesson in civics and the law, winning a $50,000 settlement and an agreement to revise its speech codes.

Robert Van Tuinen, 26, settled with Modesto Junior College just five months after his run-in with school officials on Sept. 17 – National Constitution Day. Van Tuinen said he’s more excited about getting the school to revise its speech codes, which previously confined the First Amendment to a small area students had to sign up to use.

“They were maintaining an unconstitutional speech code, and now any of my fellow students can go out and exercise their right to free speech,” Van Tuinen
- Robert Van Tuinen

Students Banned from Passing Out Constitutions on Constitution Day at Modesto Junior College - YouTube

“They were maintaining an unconstitutional speech code, and now any of my fellow students can go out and exercise their right to free speech,” Van Tuinen, an Army veteran who grew up in Modesto and now studies photography, told FoxNews.com.

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Danno · 02-27-2014, 08:20 AM

I don't see where his 1st amendment rights were violated...

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

What am I missing?

TheOak · 03-09-2014, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

I don't see where his 1st amendment rights were violated...

What am I missing?

He assembled and was stopped.
He expressed speech and was stopped.
He attempted to distribute written word (press) and was stopped.

This us a public community college.

To prevent the distribution of an amendment of the Bill of Rights by any establishment much less a tax payer funded entity of higher learning is absurd.

Im a little surprised you see nothing wrong with a student passing out parts of the Bill of Rights, while university professors distribute socialist and communist information under the guise of higher learning.

JPPT1974 · 03-08-2014, 09:59 PM

That was an expensive lesson for the college to learn, paying $50,000 shelved out!

02-27-2014, 08:20 AM	#2
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,747	Re: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution I don't see where his 1st amendment rights were violated... Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. What am I missing?

03-09-2014, 08:13 AM	#3
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,039	Re: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution Originally Posted by Danno I don't see where his 1st amendment rights were violated... What am I missing? He assembled and was stopped. He expressed speech and was stopped. He attempted to distribute written word (press) and was stopped. This us a public community college. To prevent the distribution of an amendment of the Bill of Rights by any establishment much less a tax payer funded entity of higher learning is absurd. Im a little surprised you see nothing wrong with a student passing out parts of the Bill of Rights, while university professors distribute socialist and communist information under the guise of higher learning. Srgt. Hulka likes this.

03-08-2014, 09:59 PM	#4
JPPT1974 Spring 2025 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 403	Re: California college student teaches school $50,000 lesson on Constitution That was an expensive lesson for the college to learn, paying $50,000 shelved out!
JPPT1974 Spring 2025 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 403