BERKS COUNTY, Pa. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania today announced that it has reached a settlement with the Twin Valley School District, allowing the Retire the Raider student club to operate and have the same access to school facilities and resources as other non-curricular student clubs, as required by the Equal Access Act and First Amendment. The settlement follows a federal lawsuit filed in November 2023 on behalf of Sloane Wolfe, a high school student who advocated for the district to retire its “Raider” mascot due to its stereotypical depiction of North American indigenous people.
“We’re pleased to have reached a resolution that guarantees the Retire the Raider student club equal access to school resources, just like other non-curricular clubs,” said Richard Ting, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “Students are entitled to employ their free speech rights and receive appropriate support for their clubs, regardless of differing opinions on a topic. The school district’s acknowledgment of this allows us to resolve matters without further litigation.”
The lawsuit alleged that the district’s three-year refusal to recognize Retire the Raider because the club could not find a “willing” faculty advisor violated Sloane’s rights under the Equal Access Act and First Amendment by not granting the same benefits provided to other non-curricular student clubs. According to the ACLU-PA, the “willing” faculty advisor requirement unfairly disfavored student clubs with minority, controversial, or unpopular views.
“For three years, other students and I in the Twin Valley School District worked to promote greater inclusion by peacefully protesting our school’s use of an offensive mascot and raising awareness about the harmful stereotypes it perpetuates in our community,” said Sloane Wolfe. “Now that our Retire the Raider club is recognized, we can more effectively continue that work.”
Under the settlement agreement, the school district will ensure students have equal access to the district’s “limited open forum” for non-curricular student clubs, even if a club cannot find a “willing” faculty advisor.
Learn more about the settlement here: aclupa.org/wolfe-v-twin-valley-school-district
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