Several Students Sue Officials For Kicking Conservative Chapter Off University Campus

Students involved in the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter at the University at Buffalo (UB) filed a lawsuit against the school’s Student Association for allegedly kicking their chapter off campus after banning groups from taking part in national organizations.

According to the lawsuit, the Student Association changed its policy to prohibit student chapters from being part of national organizations in order to be officially recognized on campus.

“It has been well-established since at least 1972 that affiliation with a national organization is ‘an impermissible basis upon which to deny First Amendment rights’ of association to student organizations at public universities,” the lawsuit reads.

“But today, University at Buffalo Staff and the UB Student Association acting under authority from the University have done just that: Defendants have derecognized and barred Young Americans for Freedom from benefits on campus because they are a chapter of a national organization—Young America’s Foundation… Defendants’ national-affiliation ban violates Young Americans for Freedom and its members’ rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.”

From The Daily Caller:

Due to the chapter’s relationship with YAF, it is no longer able to use university spaces or buildings for events or meetings, fundraise on campus, or access funding from the “Mandatory Student Activity Fee,” according to the lawsuit. As a result, ADF asked the court to rule that the policy is a violation of their right to free speech and assembly.

“Associating with like-minded peers on campus to discuss relevant issues is fundamental to the rights of free speech and exercise that the First Amendment protects,” ADF Senior Counsel Caleb Dalton said in a press release.

LATEST VIDEO