Published: December 03, 2008
Millersville University Wins 'Drunken Pirate' Lawsuit - Never about MySpace Photo
MILLERSVILLE, Pa., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Federal Judge Paul Diamond has
dismissed all charges against Millersville University of Pennsylvania and has
issued a verdict in favor of five Millersville University administrators and
against Stacey Snyder. The charges against the University had been dismissed
earlier in the litigation. After a bench trial, the judge ruled today in favor
of the defendants; Dr. Jane S. Bray, dean of the School of Education; Dr.
Vilas A. Prabhu, provost and vice president of academic affairs; J. Barry
Girvin, Snyder's student teaching supervisor; Dr. Judith Wenrich, student
teaching coordinator; and Dr. Beverly Schneller, chair of English.
"We are pleased with the judge's ruling," said Francine G. McNairy,
president of Millersville University. "This ruling exonerates the University
and upholds the principles of academic integrity that are the foundation of
the University and our School of Education."
"In spite of the national media saying otherwise, this was never about a
photograph," said McNairy. "To the contrary it was about performance
standards. The ruling confirms that Millersville University has a quality
teacher education program with high standards for certifying teachers and
those principles must be upheld." In her lawsuit, Snyder had claimed that she
was denied a teaching certificate because of a photograph of her on MySpace.
The photograph in question showed Snyder wearing a pirate hat with a cup in
her hand, and the caption, "Drunken Pirate" below the photo.
Snyder attendedMillersville from June 2002 to May 2006 and earned a
bachelor's degree in English, rather than a bachelor's degree in education
because she did not meet the requirements to become a teacher. Judge Paul
Diamond ruled that Millersville University did not have the authority to award
Snyder bachelor's degree in education because Snyder failed to complete the
required student teaching component of the degree; and as a result Snyder was
not eligible for an initial teaching certificate. Diamond indicated that it
would not serve the public interest and would be an impermissible abuse of the
court's equitable powers to order Millersville University to recommend Snyder
for certification to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The judge also
ruled in his verdict that the University did not violate Snyder's First
Amendment right to free expression.
"Millersville University is committed to serving our students and the
children they will teach," said McNairy. "Providing quality teachers for the
Commonwealth and nation is something we take very seriously. It's about the
children."
SOURCE Millersville University of Pennsylvania
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