Q: Is there any legal action I should/could take against a fellow student that discriminated against my disability twice?
I experienced discrimination due to my disability at my university 2 times by the same student, each time in a different registered student organization. My professor reported the discrimination to the university this past weekend and I am typing up the information to report to the EOS investigator at my university.
First time the student denied me an equitable opportunity to be able to attend and be part of a meeting, run for an officer position, and vote in the election of officers. The second time she based her speech (for an officer position only the 2 of us were running for) on weaponizing my disability against me. She became president of both student organizations. There is a lot more to it and I have proof of my efforts to get accommodations.
A:
I was the Student Body president at my University in NY, and went through many similar hurdles and acts of aggression and attempts to deny my access to student government office.
When an individual acts to deny you your civil rights or discriminates against you for any "Protected" status, the only way you can get the school to remedy that, is to be able to prove the school was aware of the actions, and failed to cure, or attempt to cure the problem.Because the student gov. Organizations receive money and status from the school, any discriminatory actions do violate Federal laws and Regulations. This would require petitions to the school and/or filing in Federal or State court under Civil Rights Laws, for recourse. Any remedy will be tough to acquire, but is obtainable. However, free speech, even if ignorant, is protected, and allowed on campus. But HATE Speech is not allowed on campus.
I hope this helps. You can call my office for more guidance, if needed. Good Luck.
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