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Law professor threatens lawsuit against ‘discriminatory’ single-sex dorms at Catholic U.
Life Site News ^ | June 21, 2011 | CHRISTINE DHANAGOM

Posted on 06/21/2011 3:09:45 PM PDT by NYer

Professor John Banzhaf

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 21, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - George Washington University Law Professor John Banzhaf has made a career out of filing lawsuits, and now he’s taking aim at Catholic University’s new single-sex dormitory policy.

Banzhaf, whose license plate reads “Sue Bast,” short for “Sue the Bastards,” has made a name for himself by bringing legal action against those whom he calls “the bad guys.”

Among this group have numbered fast food companies that he holds responsible for the nation’s obesity crisis, a military academy that would not admit women, dry cleaning establishments that charge more for women’s clothing, and now, the Catholic University of America, for attempting to stem the tide of the “hook-up” culture by banning co-ed dormitories.

John Garvey, the university’s new president, announced the new policy in a Wall Street op-ed piece last Monday.

Garvey said he believes the decision will assist the university in its mission of instilling virtue in students by combating binge drinking and promiscuous sexual behavior.

“My wife and I have sent five children to college and our youngest just graduated,” he wrote. “Like all parents, we worried about the kind of people they would grow up to be. We may have been a little unusual in thinking it was the college’s responsibility to worry about that too.”

According to Banzhaf, however, the new policy violates the D.C. Human Rights Act, an anti-discrimination law in effect in the District since 1977.

Banzhaf told Inside Higher Ed that while the Act contains a “business necessity” exception, the exception cannot be appealed to in the case of a policy that is based on “the stereotyped characterization of one group as opposed to another.”

He claims that Garvey was relying on “sexual stereotypes” by citing the promotion of virtue and the reduction of drinking and sexual activity as justification for his decision.

The policy also does not have to disadvantage one group in order to be considered discriminatory, says Banzhof.

“Suppose a university decided that there would be less racial tension if all the blacks were in a black dorm, all the whites were in a white dorm,” he said. “Each one is, quote, getting their own dormitory, and maybe some of them would be happier that way. But surely no one would suggest that it’s lawful.”

The university’s public relations told LifeSiteNews.com that it “has not received service of any legal proceedings from Professor John Banzhaf regarding the University’s plan to phase in single-gender residence halls.”

However, it said that the university, “is confident that the law does not require men and women be housed together in residence halls.”

Banzhaf told the news service yesterday that a notice of his intent to sue was in the mail to the university, and had been sent via email to two Catholic trustees and members of the Academic Senate.

“I’ve won more than 100 of these cases under the D.C. Human Rights Act,” he said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: banzhaf; catholic; dormitory; gender; johnbanzhaf; stfu; university
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1 posted on 06/21/2011 3:09:51 PM PDT by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 06/21/2011 3:10:46 PM PDT by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: NYer

As I recall, the D.C. so-called “Human Rights Act” is the law that makes it impossible for decent people to get rid of gay marriage in the district. This shyster belongs in jail with John Edwards.


3 posted on 06/21/2011 3:12:26 PM PDT by madprof98 ("moritur et ridet" - salvianus)
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To: NYer

Wouldn’t you just love to banish guys like this to North Korea?


4 posted on 06/21/2011 3:13:34 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (EX Congressman Anthony Weiner: "Celebrate 'Perversity'")
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To: NYer
The professor as a college student . . .


5 posted on 06/21/2011 3:14:54 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: NYer

“First thing we do, is kill all the lawyers.”


6 posted on 06/21/2011 3:17:14 PM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: NYer

His license plate should read “Scum Bag”.


7 posted on 06/21/2011 3:22:48 PM PDT by sigzero
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To: colorado tanker

First glance I thought that said “dud active.”


8 posted on 06/21/2011 3:27:05 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: hsalaw
Hummm. Try again.


9 posted on 06/21/2011 3:35:04 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: oh8eleven

If you laid all the lawyers end-to-end on the bottom of the ocean.


10 posted on 06/21/2011 3:42:45 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Just once I'd like someone to call me 'Sir' without adding 'You're making a scene.' - Homer Simpson)
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To: oh8eleven
“First thing we do, is kill all the lawyers.”

That idea is looking better all the time.

11 posted on 06/21/2011 3:45:46 PM PDT by Max in Utah (A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
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To: NYer

Counter-sue the mf bastard! He has not interest in the welfare of this nation.


12 posted on 06/21/2011 4:13:00 PM PDT by jimfree (In 2012 Sarah Palin will have more quality executive experience than Barack Obama.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

The one left would sue for unlawful waste dumping in the ocean.


13 posted on 06/21/2011 4:30:44 PM PDT by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a credit card?)
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To: NYer

This jerk probably has a lawsuit going to stop businesses and institutions from having separate restrooms for men and women.

Pretty sad, though, that a Catholic university wound up with coed dorms to begin with.


14 posted on 06/21/2011 4:44:16 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin in 2012)
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To: NYer

Why the heck is he worried about CU’s policy? It’s not HIS school.


15 posted on 06/21/2011 5:30:09 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: NYer
Banzhaf told Inside Higher Ed that while the Act contains a “business necessity” exception, the exception cannot be appealed to in the case of a policy that is based on “the stereotyped characterization of one group as opposed to another.”

He apparently didn't read Mr. Garvey's article. It made quite clear that the problem was with BOTH the men and women, and it made sense to keep them apart, since neither obviously were responsible enough to share dorm space.

16 posted on 06/21/2011 5:41:33 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: Bigg Red
Pretty sad, though, that a Catholic university wound up with coed dorms to begin with.

Most Catholic colleges have had coed dorms for years. It's one reason why our daughter chose Ave Maria University. None of that silliness there.

17 posted on 06/21/2011 5:51:44 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: NYer
The only good trial lawyer...
18 posted on 06/21/2011 6:00:18 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If Sarah Palin really was unelectable, state-run media would be begging the GOP to nominate her.)
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To: NYer

The only “bad guy” here is this piece of lickspittle himself.


19 posted on 06/21/2011 6:03:51 PM PDT by Oceander (The phrase "good enough for government work" is not meant as a compliment)
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To: NYer

Reminds me of the one about the tiger walking through the jungle licking up elephant droppings - he just ate a lawyer and was trying to get the taste out of his mouth......


20 posted on 06/21/2011 6:19:35 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Wanna learn humility? Become a Pittsburgh Pirates fan!)
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