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Published: 2011-12-30 14:36:00
Updated: 2011-12-30 16:33:18

Posted: December 30, 2011

St. Aug's settles with student barred from graduation

St. Aug student barred from graduation ceremony

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St. Aug student barred from graduation ceremony
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Raleigh, N.C. — Saint Augustine's College has settled a lawsuit filed by a former student who was barred from participating in last spring's graduation ceremony.

Roman Caple alleged that the school violated his free speech rights by prohibiting him from receiving his diploma with his class because of comments he had posted on the school's Facebook page following an April 16 tornado that damaged campus.

The university reopened three days after the storm amid the hum of chainsaws and the roar of heavy machinery. Caple was among the most vocal of students who balked at the quick turnaround, saying trees, power lines and broken glass still littered the campus, and some dormitories were without power.

Attorney Brandon S. Atwater said Caple was "very pleased" with the confidential settlement.

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Latest Comments
Seems to me the school got slapped for their "bad" behavior. Perhaps next time they will think a little more before implementing some draconian ruling over,... nothing.
Click to view my profile Not_Time_Yet
January 2, 2012 11:03 a.m.
'Attorney Brandon S. Atwater said Caple was "very pleased" with the confidential settlement.'

When a lawyer makes a statement like this - the assumption is that he got some money. After all, the lawyer needs to be paid and the student was seeking compensation for his relatives who traveled to see the graduation and were denied seeing it. (at least that is my understanding from earlier articles).

So in summary, I expect some money was paid to avoid going to trial with this suit - where the university would lose big money after this was placed in front of a jury.
Click to view my profile westernwake1
December 30, 2011 7:46 p.m.
EverythingTicksMeOff

who said he got money?

I don't see that in this news report.
Click to view my profile mfarmer1
December 30, 2011 6:58 p.m.
freedom of speech has been greatly tarnished thanks in part to our own government and universities. hopefully this young man will continue to advocate his future towards first amendment rights.
dsdaughtry
December 30, 2011 6:24 p.m.
this student was wronged from the beginning. I hope that he got lots of cash. Retaliation in business, in universities, is wrong. I hope that someone within the company that I work for is looking at his resume. this company practices a no retaliation policy and it works. we would be proud to have him.
traipsingthru
December 30, 2011 5:42 p.m.
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