Mich. Counseling Student Expelled Over Refusal to Treat Gay Client, Wins Case [View all]

[DeSwiss]

Source: edge on the Net

by Jason St. Amand
Web Producer / Staff Writer
Wednesday Dec 12, 2012


Julea Ward

A counseling student from Eastern Michigan University, who was expelled from the school’s counseling program over her refusal to treat a gay client, has resolved her legal case against the college, the Detroit Free Press reports. It was announced on Tuesday that officials from EMU have settled Julea Ward’s 2009 lawsuit and that the college will awarded a $75,000 settlement.

"EMU has made the decision that is in the best interest of its students and the taxpayers of the state of Michigan to resolve the litigation rather than continue to spend money on a costly trial," Walter Kraft, EMU’s vice president for communications, said in a statement.

The lawsuit was initially filed three years ago by the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian legal group, on behalf of Ward, who was training to be a grade school counselor through the college’s Graduate School Counseling Program. Officials from EMU expelled the student because of her views on the LGBT community as she declined a gay client treatment.

Officials argued that she was not following the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics but Ward cited her religious beliefs as the reason why she couldn’t help the gay client. In January, Ward was allowed to argue "religious discrimination" in her suit against the school.

Read more: http://www.edgeonthenet.com/news/national//139782/mich_counseling_student_expelled_over_refusal_to_treat_gay_client,_wins_case

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- The only upside here is that she won't be allowed to ''counsel'' anyone with her ignorance, bigotry and stupidity, so there's that. But whomever made this decision at EMU should have his/her ass kicked.....