Posted on 10/13/2007 10:09:09 AM PDT by trumandogz
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Regent University law student who posted an unflattering photo of Regent president Pat Robertson on his Facebook page has been indefinitely suspended pending a psychiatric evaluation.
Adam M. Key was told by a dean in an e-mail Friday that he was concerned about Key's "emotional well-being" and that several students have recently expressed concern about Key's "interpersonal behavior."
The students "have reported, among other things, that you said that you brought a gun on campus, which is a violation of University policy," said the e-mail, signed by associate dean of students L.O. Natt Gantt.
Gantt said Key was being suspended until he could be evaluated by a university-approved mental health provider. "Given the security situations that school campuses face today," Gantt wrote, "the University must pursue a course of action that diligently responds to these concerns."
Key said he has never brought a gun on campus or told fellow students that he had. "I've never owned or carried a gun," he said. He said he was notified of the university's action Friday during a conference call with Gantt and an assistant dean. He said neither gave specific details of their conversations with other students. "This is an effort to discredit me by drawing attention draw away from" the free-speech issue, Key said Friday.
"It's insulting to imply that someone who has different opinions from the university is emotionally unstable." Asked if he plans to make an appointment with a mental-health professional, Key said, "I'm taking it under consideration."
Key, a bearded and heavily tattooed 23-year-old Lutheran from Houston who received his undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, said he has considered transferring from Regent and was even accepted at the University of Houston last summer. He said he didn't because Houston is more expensive, though.
The picture of Robertson, posted on Key's Facebook social-networking Web page, shows Robertson making what appears to be an obscene hand gesture.
Key copied it from a YouTube video in which Robertson scratches his face with the middle finger of his right hand. The video is edited to freeze the frame in that position for several seconds. Regent, as a private university, has the right to impose punishment if it determines Key violated standards of conduct he agreed to observe when he enrolled at the school. Several legal experts, however, said it is unusual for universities to ban free speech.
The case has generated international news coverage, showing up in publications in Europe and Asia.
Regent officials were not available for comment late Friday.
Some people are destined to go through life kicking their own @sses....
Unless the students are conservative, in which case, it's not only not unusual, it's expected.
}:-)4
I guess the admissions department at Regents hasn't gotten around to reading the Old Testament.
Again, what’s the purpose of adding ‘mental health’ records to the NICS check?
Tatoos or not, the student deserved a reprimand if not a lawsuit. Free speech does not allow libel.
Now that's funny.
Looks like your site didn’t like the hot link! LOL
I don’t think that’s the right picture, dude. Just a guess.
Never thought I would see kitty porn on FR.
I’m guessing Pat was just reminding us that we’re always number one with God.
shhhhhh The Viking Kitties might be listening.
Are you saying that they shouldn’t have accepted him as a student in the first place because of his being “heavily tatooed”?
There’s nothing innately wrong with tatoos, but being heavily tatooed does say something about a person, something that they should have taken note of, as I think you’re saying.
Yes. Plenty of Universities not claiming the moral high ground to which he could have gone.
I was a bit surprised at his claim that the University was cheaper than living at home and paying in-state tuition at the state university that he considered. "and was even accepted at the University of Houston last summer. He said he didn't because Houston is more expensive, though."
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