Student Booted From EMU Wins Appeal In Lawsuit
YPSILANTI (AP) - A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she was kicked out of a master's degree program at Eastern Michigan University because of her views against homosexual behavior.
The decision Friday means Julea Ward's lawsuit against school officials is returning to Detroit federal court. She was in a counseling program at EMU when she asked her superiors to refer a gay client to someone else.
The university expelled Ward from the program, although she was just a few classes short of a degree and had a high grade-point average. She says she told professors that her Christian faith prohibited her from affirming homosexual behavior.
The appeals court says a jury could conclude that Ward's beliefs were used against her. EMU denies any bias.
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