Southern Illinois University (SIU) has reached a settlement of $80,000 with Maggie DeJong, a former art therapy counseling student, following her lawsuit claiming that the university had stifled her conservative political beliefs. The settlement comes after DeJong filed a legal complaint last year, asserting that the university subjected her to punitive measures in response to complaints from fellow students about her outspoken conservative views.
According to DeJong’s legal representation at Alliance Defending Freedom, the settlement marks a crucial victory for First Amendment rights on public university campuses. Attorney Mathew Hoffmann praised DeJong’s courage in pursuing the lawsuit, asserting that public universities should not curtail students’ political or religious expression.
As part of the settlement, three professors at SIU will undergo mandatory First Amendment training. Moreover, the university has committed to revising its student handbook and policies to ensure a welcoming environment for students with diverse political, religious, and ideological perspectives within the art therapy program.
VICTORY: We successfully settled the case against SIUE officials for violating the #1A rights of former art therapy grad student Maggie DeJong.
As a result, 3 professors are required to attend an ADF attorney-led First Amendment training, along with program policy changes.
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) July 27, 2023
In her lawsuit, DeJong claimed that the university conducted an investigation into her activities and issued three “no contact” orders after complaints were lodged against her conservative views. These orders prohibited her from any form of communication, direct or indirect, with the three students who had complained, labeling her opinions as “harmful” and “harassing.”
DeJong, who graduated from the art therapy counseling program in the previous year, stated that she often engaged in class discussions by offering her conservative viewpoint on sensitive subjects, including race relations, religion, COVID, and censorship. Additionally, she expressed her beliefs on her personal Instagram account, discussing her pro-life stance, supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, and criticizing Critical Race Theory.
The settlement reached with SIU represents a victory for DeJong and her legal team, who maintained that the university failed to provide her with an opportunity to defend herself. Her representatives reiterated that she had not violated any laws, policies, or rules.
Southern Illinois University Chancellor James Minor acknowledged the settlement in a statement, emphasizing the institution’s unwavering commitment to protecting First Amendment rights. Chancellor Minor expressed hope that people would look beyond sensationalized media reports to understand the facts of the case fully.
