Weston, WI - Late yesterday afternoon after receiving a demand letter from Liberty Counsel, the D.C. Everest School District reversed course and decided not to censor religious themes from a student-sponsored, homeroom door decorating competition.

From December 12-14, students will be participating in the "Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating Contest sponsored by the Student Council. But in a December 7, 2005, Weekly Bulletin, the D.C. Everest Senior High School told students that no religious Christmas themes were permitted. The Bulletin stated that the doors can be decorated to depict "[a]ny winter scene," so long as there are "[n]o religious ties." Principal Thomas Johansen said that any doors with religious themes would be disqualified.

Students with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes immediately obtained more than 200 student petitions protesting the discriminatory rule. Representing the students, Liberty Counsel issued a demand letter on December 7 to Kristine Gilmore, the Superintendent, and the entire school board. The letter warned the District that this kind of censorship would be met by a lawsuit. Late yesterday afternoon, the following email was sent by the District to its employees: "Our school attorneys have advised us that the phrase 'no religious ties' in the Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating rules is not in compliance with existing laws. Therefore, if the Student Council holds the Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating Contest, the phrase 'no religious ties' must be deleted from the rules." The District has also given written confirmation to Liberty Counsel confirming the changed policy.

Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated: "The students are elated that their religious viewpoints will not disqualify them from the contest. For these students, the Christmas "grinch" is gone. They can now decorate their doors with the joy of Christmas. Private religious speech that occurs on public property is fully protected by the First Amendment. Christmas cannot be treated like contraband."

Liberty Counsel's Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign is designed to educate about the constitutionality of celebrating Christmas. A free legal memo is available at LC.org.