T-Shirt Causes Uproar at Local High School

by: Jacqueline Ernest
Maplewood NJ- Susan Taylor, a student at Columbia High School (a public school) is suing the school district of Maplewood/South Orange for violating her First Amendment right to free expression. Taylor wore a t-shirt which read, “Proud to be an Atheist,” and was suspended on June 2, 2000.
According to Taylor, her history teacher, David Kasper told her that she was “going straight to hell.” Taylor was surprised by her history teacher’s response, according to Taylor, “I couldn’t believe he said that, I was just trying to express a different point of view.” Also, the principal of the high school, Jan Gorlin, demanded that Susan go to the girls’ locker room and change her shirt. Gorlin allegedly told Susan that “we all believe in God at this school- there’s no room for someone like you here.” We were able to get in contact with Gorlin who reportedly said, “I never said that to Susan. I’ve been an educator for nearly 30 years. I would never hurt a student like that.”
Taylor refused to change her shirt. The principal called her parents and had her escorted out of the building. Taylor now claims, according to the suit, that the security guard who escorted her out of the building pushed and shoved her out of the building. She was given a three week suspension which was upheld by the School District. The School District contends that school officials have the right to run the school, and to maintain order.
Taylor is suing to overturn her suspension and is also seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 in punitive damages from the school district. Taylor claims her shirt did not disrupt her classes and she should not receive the three week suspension. When speaking with her attorney, Nicholas Sullivan, he told us that the parties were working out a settlement. Sullivan also said he rejected an offer that the District insisted, which was for Taylor serve out the suspension and was never to wear the shirt at issue again.