Indian River Community College: Ban on ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and Repression of Free Speech

Case Materials

• "Victory for Free Speech at Indian River Community College," FIRE Press Release, February 2, 2005: Florida’s Indian River Community College (IRCC) has overturned its prohibition on a student-organized screening of The Passion of the Christ. The college made the decision after FIRE took the case to the national media. IRCC's statement confirmed that the college had not enforced its policies on public expression consistently and according to constitutional guidelines. IRCC has also rescinded its authoritarian requirement that a faculty advisor monitor all student organization meetings.
• "Statement of Indian River Community College, February 1, 2005," February 1, 2005
• "Ban on ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Continues as New Double Standards Are Revealed," FIRE Press Release, January 19, 2005: Florida’s Indian River Community College, which recently prohibited The Passion of the Christ from being shown on campus, has now admitted that last year it approved a screening of an R-rated documentary film at a college-sponsored event.  This contradicts the college’s claim to have banned all R-rated movies—an unwritten policy that it used to justify its decision to prohibit the Christian Student Fellowship from screening The Passion of the Christ.  The admission also undermines the college’s claim that allowing a skit called “F**king for Jesus” to be performed on campus was a breakdown of procedure.
• "Script of "F**king for Jesus" -- by Anne Meacham," January 15, 2005
• "Florida College Bans ‘The Passion of the Christ’; Launches Campaign Against Free Speech," FIRE Press Release, January 14, 2005: Florida’s Indian River Community College (IRCC) is engaging in a campaign of repression against a Christian student group for attempting to show Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ on campus.  The college banned the Christian Student Fellowship from showing the film despite the fact that the college has hosted a live performance entitled “F**king for Jesus” that describes simulated sex with “the risen Christ.”  When the group complained to the college president, administrators pulled group leaders out of class and demanded an apology. IRCC also unlawfully requires that school officials attend every meeting of student organizations.
• "Letter from Indian River Community College's Attorney to FIRE, December 22, 2004," December 22, 2004
• "FIRE Letter to Indian River Community College President Edwin Massey, December 16, 2004," December 16, 2004

Media Coverage

• "The Chill Is Nothing New," Greg Lukianoff, The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 9, 2005: Some would like to imagine that the excesses of "political correctness” are ancient history, but repression in the name of tolerance hasn't gone anywhere. Oppressive speech codes are not only still around—they have actually multiplied, even after numerous court decisions declared them unconstitutional.
• "10 great cigars and why I smoked them," Mike Adams, Townhall.com, June 13, 2005: I smoked my first CAO Cameroon the week that the FIRE defeated speech codes at two American campuses on two consecutive days. Where do these guys get all their energy?
• "College Revamps Policy After Banning The Passion," Jim Brown and Jody Brown, Agape Press, February 4, 2005: (AgapePress) - A Florida community college says it will no longer bar a Christian student group from showing the film The Passion of the Christ. The move comes after a prominent civil rights group exposed inconsistencies in school policy. In addition to dropping its unwritten ban on R-rated movies, the school has also dumped a policy that required a faculty member to be present at all student group events.
• "College To Allow Screening Of Controversial Movie," WPBF News, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- A Fort Pierce community college will show the movie "The Passion of the Christ." Indian River Community College officials said they would lift the college's ban on campus groups showing R-rated movies. They had been threatened with a civil liberties lawsuit when they refused to show the film on campus.
• "IRCC reverses ban on showing R-rated films," TCPalm.com, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE — Indian River Community College has dropped a policy banning student groups from showing R-rated films after a legal review found it violated the First Amendment, school officials said Wednesday.
• "Christian group at IRCC can show 'Passion' film," Sandra Hong, Palm Beach Post, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE—Under threat of a civil-liberties lawsuit, Indian River Community College officials announced Wednesday that they will lift the college's ban on campus groups showing R-rated movies.
• "Editorial: Contrary to news report, IRCC doesn't fit politically correct model," TCPalm.com, February 3, 2005: ABC's "World News Tonight" claimed in a nationally televised segment Tuesday that Indian River Community College is among institutions of higher learning that suppress politically conservative speech on their campuses.
• "Fort Pierce college will allow 'The Passion of the Christ' shown," The Ledger Online, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla.A community college threatened with a civil liberties lawsuit for refusing a campus screening of "The Passion of the Christ" will allow the movie to be shown.
• "Fort Pierce College Will Allow 'The Passion Of The Christ' Shown," News4Jax.com, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- A community college threatened with a civil liberties lawsuit for refusing a campus screening of "The Passion of the Christ" will allow the movie to be shown.
• "The Resurrection of the Passion," Mike Adams, Townhall.com, February 3, 2005: Dear President Massey, Indian River Community College (IRCC): You cannot imagine how excited I was to read your recent press release stating that “(IRCC) is strongly committed to fulfilling its responsibility to strike an appropriate balance between maintaining an effective, orderly learning environment and protecting the rights of (IRCC) students.” I was also thrilled to read that IRCC decided to consult a Constitutional attorney to review your policies and procedures as they relate to student activities and events on your campus.
• "Indian River Community College reverses ban on screening of Passion of the Christ," Associated Press, Sun-Sentinel, February 3, 2005: FORT PIERCE -- A community college threatened with a civil liberties lawsuit for refusing a campus screening of ``The Passion of the Christ'' will allow the movie to be shown.
• "Finally, Fla. College OKs 'Passion of Christ'," NewsMax.com, February 2, 2005: In a statement issued yesterday evening, Florida's Indian River Community College (IRCC) overturned its prohibition on a student-organized screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
• "TCoast college lifts ban on R-rated movies," Sandra Hong, Palm Beach Post, February 2, 2005: Under threat of a lawsuit by a civil-liberties group, Indian River Community College announced today that it will lift its ban on R-rated movies from being shown by campus groups.
• "Conservatives Censored on College Campuses? Free Speech Movement Finds New Group of Supporters," Dan Harris, ABC World News Tonight, February 1, 2005: When Christian students at Indian River Community College asked to host a screening of "The Passion of the Christ," administrators at first rejected the idea because of the film's R rating.
• "The Passion of the Censor," Mike Adams, Townhall.com, January 31, 2005: Dear President Massey: When I first heard your college had prevented a Christian student group from showing the film The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, I was taken aback. When I learned your college had previously hosted a live performance entitled “F*****g for Jesus,” I was disgusted by your school’s double standard. Now that I have learned administrators at your school yanked college students out of class demanding an apology for merely protesting your censorship, I am almost speechless.
• "The Troubling Resurgence of the 'Heckler's Veto'," Jan LaRue, Human Events, January 26, 2005: Character assassination too often replaces compelling argument to rebut disfavored expression, especially Christian expression, in the public square. And when aided by government suppression, the 1st Amendment is the ultimate victim.
• "Academic Freedom Group Charges Fla. College Violated Students' Rights," Jim Brown, Agape Press, January 24, 2005: A Florida community college is being accused of employing a shameful double standard after banning Mel Gibson's 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, from being shown on campus.
• "College Criticized For Banning Movie," TBOnews.com, January 23, 2005: FORT PIERCE - A community college is drawing criticism for banning a Christian student organization from showing the controversial Mel Gibson movie ``The Passion of the Christ.''
• "IRCC blows its lines," Palm Beach Post, January 21, 2005: Indian River Community College administrators owe their students at least one plausible explanation for refusing to allow a campus Christian group to show The Passion of the Christ. So far, the college has come up only with embarrassing cover stories
• "Civil liberties group denounces ‘Passion’ ban," Associated Press, MSNBC.com, January 20, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla. - A community college is drawing criticism for banning a Christian student organization from showing the film “The Passion of the Christ.”
• "Fla. College Criticized for 'Passion' Ban," Associated Press, Miami Herald, January 20, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla. - A community college is drawing criticism for banning a Christian student organization from showing the film "The Passion of the Christ."
• "Fla. College Criticized for 'Passion' Ban," Associated Press, Newsday, January 20, 2005: FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- A community college is drawing criticism for banning a Christian student organization from showing the film "The Passion of the Christ."
• "Religious group, IRCC spar over ban of 'Passion'," Sandra Hong, Palm Beach Post, January 19, 2005: FORT PIERCE — A national civil-liberties group said it will sue Indian River Community College if it does not allow a campus Christian group to show the R-rated movie The Passion of the Christ and reverse a new rule that restricts the activities of the Christian fellowship club on campus.
• "Firm to review IRCC's policies on student groups," Jennifer Brannock, Stuart News, January 19, 2005: FORT PIERCE — In response to an on-campus Christian club's cries of censorship after it was prohibited from showing the controversial Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ," Indian River Community College officials announced Tuesday they would conduct a thorough review of policies regarding student groups
• "IRCC defends not screening 'Passion'," Ana Ceron, Stuart News, January 18, 2005: The college says all R-rated movies are banned; a Christian student club counters that the policy is inconsistent and their rights were violated. FORT PIERCE — Today, officials at Indian River Community College will announce a review of their policies on student organizations and events after a Christian club complained to a national academic-freedom watchdog group that the college had stepped on its constitutional rights.
• "College Bans Gibson's Passion -- but Allows Blasphemous, Sexualized Skit," Jim Brown and Jody Brown, American Family Association, January 17, 2005: A Florida college has prohibited a Christian student group from showing the film The Passion of the Christ. The same school once hosted a live performance that included an obscene reading that involved a character simulating sex with an image of Christ.
• "Fla. College Bans Gibson's 'Passion'," NewsMax, January 14, 2005: Florida’s Indian River Community College (IRCC) is engaging in a campaign of repression against a Christian student group for attempting to show Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of the Christ" on campus.