Judge issues ruling in students’ lawsuit

On April 29, a federal district court judge issued a final ruling in a 2-year-old lawsuit brought against Tech by two students.

The plaintiffs took issue with the Institute’s “speech codes” in campus housing, the use of mandatory student fees to fund organizations and language in the student-run Safe Space program, which contained language in its training manual from varying religious texts and how each viewed homosexuality.

Tech agreed a year ago to change its speech codes, and the judge ruled for the Institute in regards to its use of fees. The ruling, however, directs the Institute to remove any “religious information” from the Safe Space training manual, an action Tech had already taken.

“We are pleased that the plaintiffs were awarded no damages, and that the judge ruled in favor of the Georgia Tech free speech zone policy and use of student activity fees,” said James Fetig, associate vice president for Communications & Marketing.

The suit also had named as defendants Senior Director of Housing Michael Black, President G. Wayne Clough, former Dean of Students Gail DiSabatino, Assistant Dean of Students Danielle McDonald and Associate Dean of Student Affairs Stephanie Ray. Clough and Ray were entitled to qualified immunity, and the other defendants were dismissed from the suit.