A college student who was prevented from handing out Bible verse-themed Valentines on her campus is suing the school in federal court, alleging the current policy is unconstitutional and violated her free speech rights.
Polly Olsen, a 29-year-old student at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, designed red heart-shaped Valentines for Valentine’s Day with various messages, the lawsuit says. Among them: “You are special! 1 John 4:11,” “God is love 1 John 4:11,” “Jesus loves you! Romans 5:8,” and “You are loved and cared for! 1 Peter 5:7.”
She went to campus in a red dress this year on Valentine’s Day and handed out the Valentines to students and staff members but was stopped by a security officer, who told her she was violating campus policy and taking part in a “suspicious activity,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The violation: sharing unwanted, potentially offensive messages.
Olsen was told she could hand out the Valentines at a designated public forum area – a small area of the campus for those who are picketing, displaying signs or distributing literature.
The campus policy, the lawsuit says, is “over-broad and vague.”
“There is nothing under Wisconsin law or the rules of [the college] which would make handing out Valentine’s Day cards with Bible references illegal or constitute ‘suspicious…
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