Valedictorian sues over ‘Jesus speech’ reprimand

Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 31, 2007 at midnight

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As she stepped to the microphone for her commencement speech last spring, Erica Corder knew that what she was about to say might ruffle some feathers.

But the 2006 graduate of Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument - one of 15 valedictorians who addressed the crowd - didn't believe she had a choice.

"I really felt God calling me to do this," Corder said Thursday. "My top priority is obeying God."

So Erica Corder thanked all the teachers, parents and peers in the crowd for their encouragement throughout the years.

Then, deviating from the 30-second speech that had been approved by the principal, she began speaking about "someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine."

"His name is Jesus Christ," Corder said. "If you don't already know him personally, I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice he made for you."

The controversy was immediate. Parents and students - including some of her fellow valedictorians - complained that Corder had been proselytizing and that her comments were inappropriate. She also took heat from school officials for deviating from the approved script.

Before she was granted her diploma, Corder was required to apologize in an e-mail to the entire school community.

Now Corder is fighting back.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court this week, Corder says the school violated her rights to free speech and equal protection.

Suit not about money

Corder's father, Steve, said Thursday the Corders are not seeking money, other than attorneys' fees. Rather, they want clarity on an area of the law that has caused problems for graduation speakers of strong faith across the country in recent years.

"We don't want future speakers to run into the same thing," said Steve Corder, who works at Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family.

The Lewis-Palmer School District released a statement Wednesday saying it intends to "vigorously defend the claims."

"While we are disappointed that this matter has resulted in litigation, we are confident that all actions taken by school officials were constitutionally appropriate," the statement said.

"Beyond that, it is the district's policy not to comment on pending litigation."

The district has a written policy titled, "Student Expression Rights," according to the lawsuit. It does not specifically prohibit religious speech, the lawsuit states.

The 15 valedictorians agreed before commencement that each person would speak for 30 seconds. Two people did the introduction, while others spoke about each year of high school. Corder and another student were tabbed to conclude the speeches.

Corder said valedictorians had only a few days to prepare their speeches before they practiced them for principal Mark Brewer.

She knew she wanted to honor God in her remarks, but she didn't do so in her practice speech because she knew there was a chance Brewer would prohibit the comments, and because she didn't think there would be enough time to work through the issue with him, she said.

After the speech, she was escorted by a teacher to see the assistant principal, who told her she wouldn't be getting her diploma, the lawsuit alleges. Five days later, in a meeting with Brewer, he told her the comments were "immature," according to the suit.

Corder agreed to issue an apology because she feared that, if she didn't do so, it might affect her ability to attend college.After her statement was distributed via e-mail, Corder got her diploma.

Allegation of unfairness

The lawsuit says Corder's attorneys sent a letter to the school board a few weeks later, asking that the district rescind the e-mailed apology and create a policy to allow religious speech.

When the district would not do so, Corder was unfairly portrayed as someone who doesn't follow the rules, the suit claims.

Corder is represented by attorneys from the Virginia-based Liberty Counsel, a law firm specializing in religious issues. The firm is associated with the Liberty University School of Law, part of the university founded by late televangelist Jerry Falwell.

Corder is now a sophomore at Wheaton College in Illinois, the alma mater of Billy Graham.

burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5343

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