Alex Soderstrom | Sports Editor
Sasserâs lawsuit alleges that by punishing him for his speech, UGA and others infringed on his constitutional rights, including the right to free speech.
Motions to dismiss Sasser s amended claim argued that Sasserâs suit contained many factual errors.
Additionally, the complaint alleges that Sasserâs speech is not entitled to First Amendment protections because the racial slur he used constitutes âfighting words.â Fighting words are defined by the Supreme Court as words that inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.â
Sasserâs amended complaint argues that his use of the slur was intended to be positive and in support of Fields.
The University of Georgia Student Government Association passed a resolution on Jan. 26 to request the university fully accept its official definition of antisemitism in order to warrant protection for Jewish students against harassment and discrimination.
SGA, with help from Students Supporting Israel and Hillels of Georgia, unanimously passed the decision to accept the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. The IHRA defines antisemitism as âa certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.â
Last semester, when someone in Natalie GaNunâs in-person class tested positive for COVID-19, her professor notified the entire class and switched to an online format for two weeks, an action professors at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia are not explicitly allowed to do.
GaNun, a senior chemical and biomolecular engineering major at Georgia Tech, said this protocol seemed necessary because her in-person class reached a high positivity rate for COVID-19 during the fall semester.
GaNun said many freshmen were in her class, which could have led to the high positivity rate. She said she received an email from the Department of Housing at Tech notifying her of a high positivity rate for students living in double-occupancy residences â typical freshman dorms.
University of Georgia President Jere Morehead announced via email on Jan. 11 that the university’s Presidential Task Force on Race, Ethnicity and Community completed its work.