AJ Fluehr

Acts of intolerance will not be tolerated at Penn State

As a student interested in public affairs and a political future, A.J. Fluehr was dumbfounded at the blatant speech codes enforced at Pennsylvania State University. Among other things, the code prohibited students from speaking, acting, thinking, feeling, or believing anything that another student might conceivably find offensive. Incredibly, officials even went so far as to say that "acts of intolerance will not be tolerated."

What's more, the university limited free student expression to a small, out-of-the-way section of the campus, and denied student activity fee support to any club or organization that identified with or expressed religious faith. Outraged at such censorship, Fluehr enlisted Alliance Defending Freedom to sue the university and reclaim for him the basic freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Within a few months, the university settled the case and made crucial changes to its policies – securing greater freedom of expression for every student on campus.