Romans 5:3-5 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Jack Denton lived through the experience these verses describe. During his senior year of college, Jack was targeted for expressing his religious beliefs in a private group chat. When the messages became public, hordes of students decried him and his beliefs and ultimately called for him to be removed as student senate president.
Despite the hatred directed toward him during this trial, Jack treated every person involved with dignity and respect from the very beginning. Though he was pressured to recant his beliefs, or at least not express them, Jack stood by his faith and his speech. In the end, he grew closer to God and feels more prepared for whatever is to come.
Who is Jack Denton?
Jack Denton graduated in 2020 from Florida State University with a degree in political science. Prior to college, he had lived in a bubble, but the FSU student senate allowed him to experience a marketplace of ideas. He said, “I really learned a lot about working with people of differing viewpoints. How to compromise. How to negotiate. And I loved it. I enjoyed getting to challenge others’ viewpoints while having my own views challenged.”
During his junior year of college, Jack decided to run for student senate president, saying, “I wanted to serve my fellow students. I had gained as much as I could from student government, and I wanted to give back and teach the next class of new, incoming senators.” In the fall of 2019, Jack was elected as FSU student senate president.
Jack’s faith comes under fire
In addition to his position as student senate president, Jack was involved in the Catholic Student Union (CSU) at FSU. During the summer of 2020, a student sent a video to the private CSU group chat. Since the video would generate funds for BlackLivesMatter.com, the ACLU, and Reclaim the Block, Jack decided to speak up. He knew everyone in the group was an intentional Catholic and wanted them to be aware of what their financial support of these groups would advocate for. The groups supported abortion, same-sex marriage, and communism—things squarely opposed to Catholic teachings and values.
After some back and forth with other members in the group chat, Jack sent the following: “I don’t mean to anger anyone – I know this is a very emotional topic. However, it is important to know what you’re supporting when you’re Catholic. If I stay silent while my brothers and sisters may be supporting an organization that promotes grave evils, I have sinned through my silence. I love you all, and I want us all to be aware of the truth.
“As far as it’s a religious issue or not, there isn’t an aspect of our lives that isn’t religious, because God wants our whole lives and everything we do to be oriented around him!”
Jack’s message expressed no ill will or malice. He simply expressed his beliefs lovingly to his friends in private.
But someone posted the messages from the CSU group chat on the Internet, and a petition surfaced calling for Jack’s resignation or removal from the student senate. The student senate held a vote to remove Jack and did not reach the two-thirds necessary for removal, though the majority ruled against him.
Some senators petitioned Jack to call a special meeting two nights later so students could weigh in on the petition for his removal. Jack scheduled the meeting, giving students the opportunity to say what they wanted to say as he had done in the CSU group chat. The meeting aimed to remove Jack from his seat in the senate as well as destroy his reputation and denigrate his faith. Many students berated Jack, calling him terrible names and accusing him of bigotry.
Jack politely listened to all of it. Jae Williams, the CSU president and Jack’s friend, commented on “[Jack’s] composure, the whole time. He didn’t flinch. He sat there and took it.”
When Jack looks back on the situation, he says, “The number of people praying for me was astronomical. So many reached out—it was incredible. And I credit their prayers for why I was able to get through that second senate meeting. It was 100% the Holy Spirit. He let me get through it without breaking down.”
While composed, Jack was also resolute. He would not resign. Jack said, “If they wanted to remove me, they were going to have to do it themselves … I wasn’t going to stand aside for my religious convictions. I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Once the student comments ended, another vote took place. This time, Jack was voted out, with all but three people voting for his removal.
Jack’s Journey to Vindication
But FSU is a public university. That means every aspect of the university, including the student senate, is bound by the Constitution—and in particular, the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and religious freedom. Jack, in his paid role, was considered a government employee, and thus protected by the First Amendment.
Jack Denton was removed from his position because he expressed his religious beliefs. FSU did not prevent the discrimination Jack endured during the Zoom meeting and turned a deaf ear to his appeal for justice afterwards. That’s a clear violation of the First Amendment. So, with the help of attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, Jack challenged these unconstitutional actions.
Since the FSU student supreme court was unable to hear Jack’s complaint due to vacancies on the court, ADF sent a letter to FSU calling on university officials to address Jack’s situation instead. When university administrators refused to help Jack, ADF attorneys filed a lawsuit on his behalf. The court then ordered FSU to resume paying Jack his wages while the case continued and said FSU had likely violated Jack’s rights.
Once the student supreme court had its positions filled, it was eager to hear Jack’s case. They ruled unanimously to reinstate Jack as president while his lawsuit proceeded.
The case eventually settled, with FSU agreeing to issue a statement affirming the school’s commitment to protecting students’ First Amendment rights on campus, especially in student government. The school also agreed to restore Jack’s lost wages, pay $10,000 in damages to Jack, as well as pay nearly $85,000 in attorneys’ fees.
Students don’t give up their First Amendment rights when they enter a public university. All Jack did was discuss Catholic beliefs with other Catholic students in a private group chat. And the First Amendment protects his right to do so.
Reflecting on his experience, Jack says, “It’s certainly solidified my faith. Really made me lean on God. I’m glad I had the experience—that God gave me another trial. He gives us trials to prepare us for whatever’s to come, and now … I feel more ready.”
Jack stood up to defend every student’s First Amendment rights
Often in today’s culture, people make efforts to silence views they don’t like rather than listening and discussing with respect. But that shouldn’t be the case at a public university. Students should be able to express their religious beliefs without being silenced and ostracized by those who disagree, and officials in student governments should not be pushed to follow a single viewpoint—or risk their position and reputation.
Every student should be able to experience the university as a marketplace of ideas. ADF will continue to stand with students like Jack Denton, and the prayers and support of our Ministry Friends are crucial to this work. Will you consider a gift today to advocate for students’ freedom of speech and religious freedom?
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