Saint Augustine's College: Student Prohibited from Walking at Graduation Due to Facebook Post

Saint Augustine's College (SAC) in Raleigh, North Carolina, refused to allow a student to participate in its graduation ceremonies due to a comment he posted on Facebook about how the college was handling its recovery from tornado damage. Despite SAC's extensive promises of freedom of expression for students, the college disciplined student Roman Caple because of what it called a "negative social media exchange." On July 8, 2011, Caple filed a lawsuit against SAC and its president, Dianne Boardley Suber, in North Carolina Superior Court, seeking damages for SAC's violation of its promises of free expression. Caple is represented by attorney Brandon S. Atwater.

Case Materials

• "Student Sues College that Banned Him from Graduation for 'Negative' Facebook Post," July 8, 2011: Today, Saint Augustine's College (SAC) graduate Roman Caple filed suit against SAC and SAC President Dianne Boardley Suber after he was forbidden from participating in spring 2011 graduation ceremonies due to a comment he posted on Facebook about how the college was handling its recovery from tornado damage. Caple's complaint, filed in North Carolina state court, alleges that SAC violated its extensive promises of freedom of expression when it disciplined him for what it called a "negative social media exchange." Caple, who is represented by attorney Brandon S. Atwater, also came to FIRE for help.
• "Complaint Filed by Roman Caple in Wake County (N.C.) Superior Court, against Saint Augustine's College and President Dianne Boardley Suber, July 8, 2011," July 8, 2011
• "College Forbids Student to Walk at Graduation Due to 'Negative' Facebook Post," May 31, 2011: Saint Augustine's College (SAC) has refused to allow a student to participate in its graduation ceremonies due to a comment he posted on Facebook about how the college was handling its recovery from tornado damage. Despite SAC's extensive promises of freedom of expression for students, the college disciplined student Roman Caple because of what it called a "negative social media exchange." Caple, who is represented by attorney Brandon S. Atwater, has also come to FIRE for help.
• "Saint Augustine's College Attorney Letter to FIRE, May 24, 2011," May 24, 2011
• "FIRE Letter to Saint Augustine's College President Dianne Boardley Suber, May 18, 2011," May 18, 2011
• "Response from St. Augustine's College, April 29, 2011," April 29, 2011
• "Letter to Roman Caple from Vice President for Student Development and Services Eric W. Jackson, April 27, 2011," April 27, 2011
• "Roman Caple's Facebook Message," April 19, 2011
• "Saint Augustine's College Facebook Page, April 18-22, 2011," April 18, 2011
• "Saint Augustine's College Student Handbook and Academic Calendar, 2009-2011," August 7, 2009

Blog Entries

• "St. Augustine's College Extends Punishment, Bans Graduate From Homecoming for Facebook Post," by William Creeley, October 19, 2011: Saint Augustine's College (SAC) has informed graduate Roman Caple that he is barred from participating in this weekend's Homecoming celebration, continuing the college's punishment of Caple for a comment he posted on Facebook last spring about how the college was handling its recovery from the tornado that struck its Raleigh, N.C., campus. Earlier this year, SAC prohibited Caple from participating in spring 2011 graduation ceremonies, disciplining him for what it called a "negative social media exchange." As a result of being banned from graduation, Caple filed suit against SAC and President Dianne Boardley Suber in July. Caple's suit alleges that SAC violated its extensive promises of freedom of expression when it disciplined him for his Facebook post.
• "'WorldNetDaily' Highlights Punishment for Facebook Comments at Two Colleges," by David Deerson, July 14, 2011
• "Roman Caple's Lawsuit Against St. Augustine's College Covered in 'Chronicle of Higher Education'," by Adam Kissel, July 12, 2011
• "NBC-17 on Free Speech Lawsuit Against St. Augustine's College," by Peter Bonilla, July 11, 2011
• "Student Sues College that Banned Him from Graduation for 'Negative' Facebook Post," by Azhar Majeed, July 8, 2011
• "Spotlight on Senior Barred from Graduating Ceremonies Due to Facebook Comment," by Jordan Fischetti, June 3, 2011
• "MSNBC to Interview Student Barred from Graduation Ceremonies Due to ‘Negative’ Facebook Post," June 2, 2011: UPDATE: The interview has been postponed. Roman Caple, a 2011 graduate of Saint Augustine's College (SAC) in North Carolina, is scheduled to appear on MSNBC with his attorney sometime between 10:30-11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday. They will be discussing how SAC violated its own promises of free speech and due process when it refused to allow Caple to participate in any graduation ceremonies due to a comment he posted on Facebook about how the college was handling its recovery from tornado damage. FIRE has been advocating for Caple's rights in this sad case.
• "College Forbids Student to Walk at Graduation Due to 'Negative' Facebook Post," by Peter Bonilla, May 31, 2011
• "St. Augustine's College Attempts to Justify Punishment of Graduating Senior for 'Inappropriate' Facebook Comments," by Erica Goldberg, May 12, 2011
• "College Student Denied Graduation Walk Following Innocuous Facebook Post," by Erica Goldberg, May 10, 2011

Media Coverage

• "Colleges grab Facebook posts to punish student, fire prof,"
  by Bob Unruh, WorldNetDaily, July 13, 2011
• "Graduate Sues College That Barred Him From Commencement,"
  by Marc Parry, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 11, 2011
• "Student prohibited from graduation for Facebook comments,"
  by Caroline May, The Daily Caller, June 2, 2011
• "Negative Facebook Post Gets Student Barred From Commencement,"
  by Marc Parry, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 1, 2011