YOUR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS ON CAMPUS



The Equal Access Act has always allowed students to express their religious beliefs, establish & participate in the religious club of our choice, wear religious jewelry, T-shirts or other religious clothing/symbols of our faith, and hold prayer meetings/vigils outside of classrooms/classes. There are only two stipulations to the law:
1) The meetings or activites cannot be facilitated by a staff member of the school or college,
2) We cannot openly evangelise, but we can share our beliefs and views.

Our rights as Pagans have recently been threatened by schools by using the "Zero Tolerance Policies" to list Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches as recognized gangs or "cults". These schools and school districts also listed our religious symbols & clothing such as pentacles as being on a list of banned symbols, wearing of black clothing and other garb we would wear on Sowen (Samahian) as banned under the "Gang or Cult" list. The listing of Pagans, Wiccans & Witches as "Gangs or Cults" was recently challenged in the State of Michigan by the ACLU and The Witches Anti-Discrimination League. Here is the recent ruling, which is in "our favor".

RE: Seifferly v. Lincoln Park High School

3/23/99
News release from Eddie Ortiz and Teresa Marshall
Facilitators, Spiral Paths Community
Midwest Regional Directors, Witches' Anti-Discrimination League (WADL)

The ACLU of Michigan and the Lincoln Park school board attorneys have
reached a final settlement today in the case of the school's banning of
pentacles, and declaring that Pagans and Witches were inappropriate to the school setting (Seifferly v. Lincoln Park High School). These are the basic terms that have been agreed upon, and have been approved by Judge Rosen:

* The words "Pagans" and "Witches" will be removed from the policy.

* An exception to the policy is made for students wearing "jewelry or other symbols in the profession of their religion".

* Students do not need to initiate the contact informing the administration of their religious preference. If the student is approached by the administration or a security officer, the student simply needs to inform them the symbols are for the professing of their religion.

* The school agrees to pay the plaintiff attorneys fees ($14,000).

* Ms. Seifferly waives civil rights violation damages.

* The school will republish the policy within five school days.

This has been entered as a "consent judgement", enforceable if the school at some point in the future tries to change or reimplement the original policy.

The Witches' Anti-Discrimination League is extremely pleased that the U.S. District Court and the school board and administration of Lincoln Park High School have taken notice of the rights of Pagans and Witches in society and in our schools, and have agreed to uphold the rights of all student's forms of religious preference and expression while attending public schools. We regret that a court action had to be taken, resulting in the expenditure of $14,000 of Michigan taxpayers dollars, but feel that the final outcome has resulted in an increased public awareness and acceptance of Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft, and other Earth-based religious traditions, and an increased familiarity and affirmation of our religious paths in the United States federal court system.

Hopefully this consent judgement in the Seifferly vs. Lincoln Park case will lead other school boards throughout the country examining their own dress codes and gang policies, and insuring that the religious freedom rights of all their students are supported and respected.






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