Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: The latest: Here is an article from the Associated Press's Tech Wire Section of their web site: I went to the web site that was made up by the student who posted his feeling about his teacher and this is what I found. Sue MARCH 19, 12:30 EST Court Backs Student's Web Site CLEVELAND (AP) -- A federal judge ordered a school district to reinstate a student suspended for using the Internet to gripe that a band teacher had a bad haircut and favored some students over others. Senior U.S. District Judge John M. Manos also ordered Westlake school district officials not to restrict what 16-year-old Sean O'Brien puts on a Web site set up through his home computer. O'Brien's Web site featured a photograph of his high school band teacher and described him as ``an overweight middle aged man who doesn't like to get haircuts.'' The student also wrote: ``He likes to involve himself in everything you do, demands that band be your No. 1 priority, and favors people.'' The temporary order Wednesday will be in effect until at least April 3, when a full hearing is scheduled on O'Brien's claim that the district violated his First Amendment rights. O'Brien, a junior, served eight days of his 10-day suspension. He returned today to Westlake High School today -- and band class. ``I'm going to sit there and do what I'm expected to do,'' he said. Chris Link, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, said she was unaware of any previous court decision regarding a student's free-speech rights on the Internet. ``The school cannot control the communication off the school grounds,'' she said. The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring that the suburban Cleveland district violated O'Brien's First Amendment rights and asks for $550,000 in damages from various school administrators and the district. School officials contend they were entitled to discipline O'Brien under a school rule that requires students not to ``demonstrate physical, written, or verbal disrespect/threat'' against school employees. O'Brien closed down the Web site after his March 6 suspension, but the judge's order allows him to restore it. He said he did not know yet if he will reopen it. ``I'm not sure my dad will let me,'' he said. A Message From The Systems Administrator of Omni-NET Internet Services, the server formerly hosting this site: For some odd reason, a fairly large number of High Schools, Colleges, and Corporations feel that they have more power then our Bill of Rights. How foolish of them. The third article of the Bill of Rights, an integral part of a document which has existed for over two hundred years, clearly states that no law shall be made "...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...", both of which apply to the information on the World Wide Web. Granted, there aren't many legal precedents dealing with the World Wide Web, and it is relatively uncharted territory for our legal system, but taken at face value anyone should have the right to put up any web site assuming that it does not contain information slandering a person or company. If the information contained on a web site is truthful, even if it is damaging, it is under the protection of the Bill of Rights. The World Wide Web was designed to be a medium of communication, communication of information, communication of opinions and communication of ideas. Support freedom of speech on the Web. Don't allow those in positions of power to stop you from using the Web to voice your opinions. If this happens, the Web will become just another advertisement. You must stand up for your right to use this medium. If you resist all threats toward your opinions, their sovereignty is guarenteed. Max -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
