Hunter
03/23/21
The 8th US District Court of Appeals has ruled that three University of Iowa administrators can be held liable for monetary damages for dismantling a student organization that rejects homosexuality.
The group, Business Leaders in Christ, stripped sophomore student Marcus Miller from a leadership position after learning his sexual orientation in 2017. Miller filed a discrimination complaint against the group, but the University said they could select leaders who embraced their faith. But the Daily Iowan reports that a press release from the law firm representing the organization accused the university of doing an about face later, accusing Business Leaders in Christ of discrimination and kicking it off campus.
The case went to the federal court of appeals, where they ruled that Thomas Baker, assistant dean of students at the time, Lyn Redington, a former UI dean of students, and William Nelson, executive director of the Iowa Memorial Union, were in violation of Business Leaders in Christ’s constitutional rights. However, the three were given qualified immunity in the ruling.
Monday’s decision reverses that qualified immunity. The DI reports that Director of Media Relations Anne Bassett said in an email to the paper that the UI is currently reviewing the decision and its options.