Peralta settles lawsuit over student prayer

Contra Costa Times ^ | 5/7/10 | Matt Krupnick

[SmithL]

The Peralta Community College District has settled a federal lawsuit over its punishment of two College of Alameda students who were praying on campus.

The four-college district will pay $90,000 in legal fees to students Kandy Kyriacou and Ojoma Omaga, who were threatened with suspension after they prayed in class and after Kyriacou prayed with a sick instructor in the teacher's office. The district also agreed to rescind its written warnings to the students, sent in late 2007 and early 2008.

The settlement gained final approval Wednesday from U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston. Omaga said she was not surprised by the outcome.

"I have always known, from the bottom of my heart, that this day would come," she said. "This is God's case, this is not me."

College of Alameda Vice President Kerry Compton, whose disciplinary letters to the two women sparked the lawsuit, did not respond to a phone message . . .

[SmithL]

Illston, Susan Yvonne

Born 1948 in Tokyo, Japan

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Northern District of California
Nominated by William J. Clinton on January 23, 1995, to a seat vacated by Barbara A. Caulfield; Confirmed by the Senate on May 25, 1995, and received commission on May 26, 1995.

Education:
Duke University, B.A., 1970
Stanford Law School, J.D., 1973

Professional Career:
Private practice, Burlingame, California, 1973-1995

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Female

[EagleUSA]

Godless liberal academia at its best.....

[scan59]

Great news! Our standing up for our rights is beginning to make some progress.

[ilovesarah2012]

I can’t believe what has happened to America. What is the answer?

[bboop]

The answer is just what you see in the news — this case of the students praying was won; the students who wore flag tshirts in Morgan Hill were vindicated and the Superintendent apologized; AZ passed a law to take care of their citizens in spite of Al Sharpton.

Good things are happening in the murk. Don’t you see it? Things won’t turn around instantly, but We the People are on the move, and we will not be stopped.

[ilovesarah2012]

But we shouldn’t have to be fighting for these things. It should be a given that the American flag is respected, that people are free to pray and that illegals can’t just cross into America.

But I agree - we will NOT BE STOPPED!

[calex59]

I have always known, from the bottom of my heart, that this day would come," she said. "This is God's case, this is not me."

This was about the constitution. There is no way in he** they can legally suppress someone's right to pray, especially if they allow muslims to pray on campus. 1st amendment means freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

[bboop]

‘Shouldn’t have to’ be fighting for these things, but probably always will have to, as long as there are HUMANS. hahah.