Missouri News, News

UMKC brings together participants in speech cases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Plaintiffs, defendants and attorneys in several landmark student free speech cases will be at the University of Missouri-Kansas City law school next month.

The symposium Sept. 20-21will feature participants in such cases as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. That’s the 1969 Supreme Court case that set standards for courts to measure whether school disciplinary measures violate students’ First Amendment rights.

The forum will also examine cases prompted by the suspension of one student who delivered a sexually suggestive speech and another who displayed a “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner.

UMKC was involved in one of the cases that will be highlighted. Widmar v. Vincent ended with the Supreme Court siding with a Christian group that wanted to continue meeting on campus.

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