Education

Ohio College Prohibits Student From Peacefully Distributing Anti-Birth Control Literature on Campus

According to FIRE, an organization dedicated to upholding civil liberties in higher education, a student at Ohio’s Sinclair Community College was banned from handing out literature about birth control, abortion, and breast cancer to students on campus.

It all began during Breast Cancer Awareness Month when student Ethel Borel-Donohue distributed about 15 flyers to a handful of students following her Probate Law I class. Borel-Donohue was in a paralegal-prep program at Sinclair Community College. The flyers she distributed, which you can see here, discussed the possible link between taking birth control/having an abortion and getting breast cancer. In that sense, the flyers caution against such forms of birth control and can be interpreted to be pro-life.

Ohio College Prohibits Student From Peacefully Distributing Anti Birth Control Literature on Campus

But apparently that “offended” at least one student who had previously had an abortion. As a result, Borel-Donohue was called into the office of Paralegal Program Chair who told her she had “no right” to be distributing such pamphlets.

Does the Constitution protect the right to “not be offended”? No. But college campuses seem to.

FIRE reports:

Borel-Donohue was summoned to the office of Judge Michael Brigner, Paralegal Program Chair, and they met on November 2, according to Borel-Donohue’s written account. Brigner reportedly stated that a student had complained to him about being “offended by the material in the brochures.“ Brigner then told her she ”had no right to hand out any materials to students in the classroom.” On January 4, 2011, Borel-Donohue asked Brigner to verify the conversation, but he refused to correct her account, which he merely said was “not accurate” in a reply the same day.

Here is Borel-Donohue’s account of what happened, which she wrote in a letter to Brigner:

I arrived at your office at the agreed upon time and once I was seated in your office, you reached into your briefcase and pulled out two brochures and said that these were the reason you had called me into your office. One of the brochures was on the link between abortion and breast cancer and the other on the link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer.

You said that a student (whose name you kept anonymous) had come to you to complain that I had given the brochures to her and that she told you she had had an abortion and was offended by the material in the brochures.  I informed you that indeed I had handed some of those brochures out to some of my classmates after class one day during Breast Cancer Awareness Month(October), for which there was even a handmade poster on the wall of the classroom made by students in the Paralegal Club.

You told me that the student had told you that I had left the brochure on her desk and so she was not able to tell me in person that she did not want the brochure. You then told me that I had no right to hand out any materials to students in the classroom.  You told me that the classroom belonged to the professor, not the students. You told me I could have handed the materials out to students in the hallways, but not in the classroom – not even after or before class when I would obviously not be disrupting any class.

I told you I had read the rules of the College and saw that students are not allowed to put materials on people’s cars in the college parking lot, but nowhere did I read that students could not give to their classmates materials after or before class in the classroom and that I did not want to just give up my right to do so if I indeed do have that right.

Brigner tersely responded that her “letter is not accurate.”

Ohio College Prohibits Student From Peacefully Distributing Anti Birth Control Literature on Campus

Until Brigner corrects Borel-Donohue’s account, I’m left to reason, as FIRE President Greg Lukianoff does, that “The right to distribute literature about controversial topics is one of Americans’ most hallowed rights. If someone’s claim to be offended by speech were all it took to overrule the First Amendment, we would all be reduced to silence. Thankfully the Constitution does not recognize a ‘right not to be offended.’”

While the college’s Student Handbook notes that the distribution of any materials on Sinclair property is prohibited–with the exception of those registered (read: pre-approved?) materials distributed by college-recognized student groups–Borel-Donohue observes:

I told you I had read the rules of the College and saw that students are not allowed to put materials on people’s cars in the college parking lot, but nowhere did I read that students could not give to their classmates materials after or before class in the classroom and that I did not want to just give up my right to do so if I indeed do have that right. You told me I should talk with someone at Student Activities (or Student Affairs) and they would verify that I do not have the right to give to other students any materials within classroom walls.

When I informed you that one of my paralegal professors had, while in the classroom during a previous quarter, put in a plug for one of her pet clubs which could easily be construed as controversial or offensive to some students and I asked if that was alright for teachers to do, you said,”No, it was not alright for the teacher to have done this, but” you continued, “if you want to complain, you would need to make a formal written complaint.” You did not tell me what consequences you would take if I were to give out any materials within the classroom walls to classmates after or before class again.

FIRE has asked the college to update its student policies to conform to the First Amendment.

Comments (63)

1 2
  • donewithnews
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 10:03pm

    This has been dealt with. See Morse v. Frederick.

    Report Post » donewithnews  
  • V-Forge
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:10pm

    Liberal are Nazis.

    Report Post » V-Forge  
  • CaptainSpaulding
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:29pm

    Your little Constitution doesn’t apply to us: we’re big important members of the American Left.

    Now pay your taxes – we need raises…..

    Report Post »  
  • MomaGrisley2
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:13pm

    This is my alma mater so I can speak with firsthand knowledge. The only ones entitled to free speech are liberal progressives, everyone else much be silenced. The “Community” part of Sinclair Community College is a misnomer.

    Report Post »  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:30pm

    So what happened to the free country concept?

    Report Post »  
  • TheWatcher
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:03pm

    We must stand agains this kind of behavior.
    /////////////////////
    Buck
    http://www.***************
    Heirloom Seeds, ‘How God plants His garden’

    Report Post » TheWatcher  
  • Liz
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:47pm

    College students are such big whiney babies these days. If someone offends you it is so much easier to say “bite me” than to go cry to the Dean.

    Report Post »  
  • super six four
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:41pm

    Please pray for the end to the pre meditated murder of unborn human life. May God forgive us.

    Report Post » super six four  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:41pm

    Okay, folks bear in mind that there is NO link between abortion and breast cancer. It is a lie. It is a myth. It’s not a scientific fact, or even a medical theory. There is no evidence for it, and good evidence against it. The school did the right thing in banning this nonsense, not because it is offensive, but because deliberately teaching things that are known to be untrue is the exact opposite of education. Controversy is one thing, misinformation is another, we don’t send our kids to college to make them dumber, and the school would be negligent if they sent them home stupider than when they got there.

    Report Post »  
    • Liz
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:53pm

      Then they will use the same argument to prohibit people from handing out literature questioning global warming, since there is “no scientific debate” over the topic. These are college students, not fifth graders, though by their behavior one could be forgiven for not knowing the difference. One would hope they are not stupid enough to swallow whole any information handed to them on a flier without one iota of skepticism. College isn’t just about learning facts. It is about learning to research, to reason, to decide what is fact and what is crap.

      Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:26pm

      “Women should discuss their family history of cancer with their doctor when evaluating the risks and benefits of using birth control pills.” WARNING on Pills…

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Nobamazone
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:56am

      @chet
      “There is no evidence for it, and good evidence against it.”
      your statement is also true about the theory of evolution, and yet that is exactly what our schools teach, hmmmm

      Report Post » Nobamazone  
  • angelcat
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:31pm

    Would the same thing have happened if the pamplet was extolling “reproductive rights’, especially abortion? I bet not.

    Report Post »  
  • BetterDays
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:27pm

    Wow, I’ve tried to post three times on this thread now, censored on a free speech thread, ironic?

    Please click link, and call your representative! http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/GOP_lawyer_circulates_Obama_impeachment_articles.html?showall

    Report Post »  
  • Rowgue
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:26pm

    Wow Brigner is kind of a moron isn’t he? This is the kind of person in a leadership position at a LAW SCHOOL? That is laughable.

    He condescends to the student making some assinine statement insinuating that she’s somehow inept and has no business studying at a law school. Notably he didn’t refute any of her claims or provide his version of what took place. He simply took the tack a typical forum troll does and resorted to a thinly vieled character assault rather than actually attempting to challenge here claims.

    Report Post »  
  • BetterDays
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:22pm

    NOT ON TOPIC…ALERT….ALERT……ALERT

    A TOP GOP LAWYER HAS WRITTEN ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AND SENT THE TO THE HOUSE FOR REPRESENTATIVES TO CONSIDER. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.!!!!!!!!!

    http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/GOP_lawyer_circulates_Obama_impeachment_articles.html?showall

    Report Post »  
  • mary12153
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:10pm

    If I were to agree with abortion, I would I be accused of encouraging blacks and hispanics and other minorities to destroy their children to ensure rich people don’t have to pay for them?

    Report Post »  
  • mrlogan3
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:01pm

    I think I got reported for not agreeing strongly enough. Stupid commie lib think tank is trying to kill religion and Obummer is behind it.

    Report Post » TRUTH  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Yeah! Obama wants to kill religion!!

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:55pm

      @Exrepublisheep

      Glad to see you are beginning to see things for what they really are! Congratulations.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:58pm

    Just get over it and hand out the stuff before or after class, outside of the classroom. Problem solved. Save your paralegal crap training for something meaningful. Classes are run by teachers filled with students voluntarily attending to learn what the teachers have to teach, not to deal with individuals who are promoting an agenda, wether good or bad, agreeable or not.

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
  • spinelessdave
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:58pm

    she should have the right to scrape out her mistake ( as obama said ) and I should have the right to express it that way

    Report Post » spinelessdave  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:54pm

    Socialist CONTROL of the people cannot succeed without the SHUTTING DOWN OF FREE SPEECH. That’s all this is about!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:50pm

    A the University life and the free flow of information……as long as it goes in one direction.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • Pattondog
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:48pm

    sounds more like the so called “Offended student” had cognitive dissonance of her said abortion versus actually being offended by the educational materials.

    in another words she had buyers remorse of her own actions and the flyer reminder her of the poor choice she made; but, gave the baby no choice if wished to live or not, or be in the hands of a adoptive parents and be breathing & laughing today.
    now i dont know the reason the said student went through with it,but pure speculation im guessing it had nothing to do with her safety of delivering said child.

    Report Post »  
  • louise
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:46pm

    So if a woman CHOOSES to have an abortion, why would she be ‘offended’ by another persons CHOICE to be pro-life? She did not have to accept the brochure.

    Report Post » louise  
    • mrlogan3
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:03pm

      It was just on her desk, not handed directly to her

      Report Post » TRUTH  
  • geonj
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:42pm

    liberal‘s on college campus are constantly trampling on the first amendment rights of anyone they don’t agree wilth. it is time to call on all oppressed peoples on college campuses to rise up and forcefully(read “violently”) take back their rights from these cowards who fear the voices of those who disagree with them.

    Report Post » geonj  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:39pm

    Well im offended because free speech is being trampled on. Wheres the AG on this? Oh ya now I remember hes partying it up with some black panthers for a campaign drive for Obama. And to distribute louisville sluggers and brass knuckles to the panthers for that “voting incentive”

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
  • ConsiderThis
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:20pm

    I’m sure Eric Holder will step right up and defend Borel-Donohue’s rights!

    Report Post »  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:51pm

      While they “..can’t really stop her….” As in tie & gag her individual professors can easily manipulate grades downward. I don’t know if the Eric Holder thing is funny or not. But if we can’t grin or even laugh a little along the way this would be a very, very depressing world. Try smiling who knows you might enjoy it.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:04pm

      My post made more sense before the previous post was deleted.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:23pm

      @82nd ~
      They’re fast with the flush handle!

      I just emailed the school, and it was one of the best letters I’ve written in a long time, if I do say so myself!

      (I’ll probably have the FBI rapping on my door in the a.m.! I asked if the faculty members have read the United States Constitution. Janet Napolitano iwould have a field day with terrorist speech like that!)

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:02pm

      I was identified as a “problem thinker” early in my college days. I NEVER broke a C in any class and it was revealed to me by all of my professors that it was not my classwork, but my “alignment” that held me back. I felt I owed it to them to extract myself from college. I do NOT regret my actions and I hope this woman doesn’t either. The hypocracy of a college/university restraining the free exercise of ideas is the most offensive concept I can imagine at this moment. Real bug up my arse. If you cannot ,in your formative years,fumble stupidly with ideas and concepts(socialism,legal pot, becoming a veterinarian) than when and where can you? You are only young once, and you are going to be shut up and shut down once you enter real life soon enough.

      Report Post »  
    • teachermitch32
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:57pm

      @338,

      Back in 72′ & 73′ I remember my Zoology prof having us close the book and lab WB when we arrived at the “evolution” chapter. He gave us 3 weeeks to produce a term paper on creation vs. evolution. Our grade was not based on what our conclusion was but on the resources we used and our due diligence. He helped to make thinkers…not followers and data machines. That’s how it should be done. Period!

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:14pm

    But apparently that “offended” at least one student who had previously had an abortion. As a result, Borel-Donohue was called into the office of Paralegal Program Chair who told her she had “no right” to be distributing such pamphlets.
    ~~~~~
    Well, I’m offended that the one student was offended! What ever happened to free speech?

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Revere1
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:20pm

      This is very typical for liberal universities. They don’t believe in free expression or thought, only liberal ideology: http://www.battlefield315.com/2011/03/liberal-universities-explained.html If their mission is to brainwash students into becoming liberals, of course they won’t allow dissenting opinion. They don’t care about the First Amendment, only liberalism.

      Report Post » Revere1  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:24pm

      It’s only consider “free speech” when it agrees with the left agenda.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:24pm

      @showtime, free speech, is only when the dictator say you can say or do something, and i to are offended by the one offended student,they let communist on campus,but not free speech?????

      Report Post »  
    • AnAppealToGod
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:26pm

      WHERE THE HELL HAS FREEDOM OF SPEECH GONE??? we hear it from the pseudo politically correct libs all the time. Where is it when it’s actually NEEDED???????

      Report Post » AnAppealToGod  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:29pm

      @Show – Well I am offended at your offence to the student being offended by the offensive student that was offended by an inoffensive flyer. I think. (??)

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:37pm

      why was this girl offended by the literature…was she feeling a little “guilt” over her abortion…why wouldn’t any woman want to know the connection between birth control pills, abortion and breast cancer..makes sense to me…but afterall, I’m a conservative, so I have a brain to think for myself.

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:53pm

      @82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:29pm
      @Show – Well I am offended at your offence to the student being offended by the offensive student that was offended by an inoffensive flyer. I think. (??)
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Had to hang on tight to that comment to follow your train of thought! I’m not offended by anything you do or say.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • thegrassroots
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:56pm

      I’d post the contact info for Sinclair Community College; but, everytime I do that my post gets deleted. The contact info can easily be found on the websites. All of this to say: Email the college officials on this young woman’s behalf. They think they can just blatantly twist consitutional rights and no one finds out. Not only is it important that schools find out that these issues get National Attention — informing “educators” about their lack of knowledge about The Constitution and telling them to go back to school and study until they get it right is a lot of fun.

      Liberal Lemmings Don’t Like To Get Called Out And Held Accountable. It gives them one more thing to get mad at and they love to be mad all the time. :-)

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Wait just a danged minute!!! All those union protests, threats, death threats — “we’re going to put a bullet in you head”– pushing, shoving, filthy language on signs, and NOBODY arrests anyone? How OFFENSIVE is THAT?!

      But some little twerp who doesn’t have sense enough or self espect enough to keep her pants on — SHE’s offended because she had an abortion?

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:00pm

      @Showtime – I guess I am losing my touch! I was attempting to make a funny. I meant no harm. Things are soooo serious lately. Just trying to joke around with a friend of mine!!!

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:05pm

      @82nd ~
      I understood. That’s the reason I said I had to hang on tight! (I laughed at your comment, btw.)

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • copper
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:34pm

      The liberal THOUGHT POLICE are on almost every campus. My son who is in art college was not allowed to do a campaign project about Israel’s right to exist and defend itself because it might offend a MUSLIM student. When he pointed out how he is constantly offended by the ANTI-CHRISTIAN, ANTI-CONSERVATIVE BIAS of students and professors, they had nothing to say. A fellow student who wanted to address the media bias was informed she was NOT ALLOWED to mention OBAMA.

      He will be done there very soon and can’t wait to get out.

      Report Post »  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:50pm

      I’m offended that the offended student was offended, bring that scurvey dog up on charges!!!!
      ready……aim……..FIRE

      Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:55pm

      It appears we lost “free speech” on campuses some time ago!!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • Marylou7
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:04pm

      Well I‘m offended that the girl had an abortion ’HIGHLY OFFENDED.”

      Report Post » Marylou7  
    • restorehope
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:46pm

      Evidently it doesn’t matter to this college that the information she is sharing with fellow students might actually save some of their lives down the road.

      The girl that had the abortion must have had a revelation that birth control is preferable to taking the life of another baby (which she did once already). She is, however, imposing her own views on the subject upon everyone else by trying to stifle another opinion.

      People should be able to decide for themselves after reading the girl’s handout. If the girl who had an abortion didn’t agree with it, she could have just thrown it in the garbage. Instead to chose to flaunt her liberal views and the liberal college was all too happy to abet her.

      Parents should be taking a closer look at this college and be aware of its progressive stance.

      Report Post »  
    • goatkid
      Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:17pm

      I’m offended that she had an abortion.

      Report Post »  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:26am

      “Brigner reportedly stated that a student had complained to him about being “offended by the material in the brochures.“
      —————————

      Wait a minute here. How could anyone be offended by literature that gives you advice on how NOT to catch diseases and unwanted pregnancies? I’m serious, who in their right mind would be “offended”? My guess…. a Feminazi. Idiots.

      What is it? (photo)
      http://www.americasteapartynews.com/freedomjamboree.php

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • Ledger
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 5:16am

      Copper, you are right. There is no tolerance for dissent when arguing with the liberals who have the power in colleges. My kids made it through with their conservative values intact. They carefully chose their battles with liberal staff members and developed friendships with people of conservative values. It is best to be practical and not pick fights with the administration, just as one would have to do in a job. That girl will not last on a job with that chip on her shoulder.

      Report Post » Ledger  
    • US Citizen
      Posted on April 7, 2011 at 6:26am

      Send a email to mike.brigner@sinclair.edu and let him know your thoughts on Freedom of Speech. Also, ask him to ‘correct’ her account of their meeting as he apparently claims her recollection was inaccurate but he failed to point out the inaccuracies.
      Maybe he’ll get the message when he hears from the public that his views are not congruent with the constitution and the right to freedom of speech. Keep an eye out, you’ll hear about a another student handing out flyers and NOT getting called out for it because Mr. Brigner agrees with their views…

      Report Post »  
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