‘The employee has since apologized for the choice of words and acknowledged that the sign is not an example of hate speech,’ according to a university statement

A Christian university in Texas is apologizing for a recent situation in which a pro-life student group was forced to remove its “abortion is murder” sign.

Abilene Christian University’s ACU for Life group last month was tabling in the campus center with a sign that read: “Abortion is Murder. Disagree? Let’s talk.”

But two administrators took issue with that verbiage and told the group the wording was inappropriate and represented hate speech, according to two videos of the incident posted by LifeNews.

Both employees were very insistent that the sign’s wording could not stand and needed to go for the group to continue to table its message that day, the videos show.

ACU for Life’s student President Madelyne Arrowood stood her ground, at one point stating: “No, I am not taking it down. Abortion is murder. And they are killing someone. This is a Christian campus. We say that we are believers and a baby is a life.”

Ultimately Arrowood was able to come up with a temporary compromise with officials.

“After a roughly three minute discussion, and sensing that the pushback centered upon the use of the word ‘murder,’ Arrowood stated that she would write, ‘Abortion Kills Innocent Human Life’ on a new piece of paper and an alternative message. Dean [Lyndi] Felan agreed and left,” LifeNews reported.

The controversy prompted the launch of a petition titled “ACU For Free Speech In Campus Centers” that has generated nearly 900 signatures.

ACU policies posted online “contain few mentions of ‘hate speech’ and no official definitions,” Campus Reform reported. “The university’s Code of Conduct categorizes ‘hate speech’ as a serious violation that creates a ‘hostile environment,’ but provides no examples of what it means. In the same section, the code defines ‘harassment’ and ‘sexual harassment,’ but not ‘hate speech.'”

In response to the incident, which prompted several news articles, the university published a lengthy statement walking back its enforcement of the sign. The Dallas Express published the statement in full:

On Oct. 14, ACU for Life – a student organization that had reserved a table in the area immediately adjacent to the dining hall – was asked by a Student Life representative to modify the wording of a sign on their display. After ACU staff engaged with the students and provided direction, the students were allowed to continue using the space in the campus center. The university has been supportive of the ACU for Life organization and has provided tremendous encouragement for their work.

During the interaction, the Student Life staff member unfortunately used the phrase “hate speech” in a broader conversation to describe the sign. The employee has since apologized for the choice of words and acknowledged that the sign is not an example of hate speech. To be clear, the university does not believe the sign represented hate speech.

ACU’s campus center is frequented by students, faculty and staff, community members, guests and families. It is intended to be a welcoming space, and activities that take place there should be in keeping with that intent.

Open discussion of ideas, challenging topics and areas of disagreement is welcomed and encouraged at ACU, and opportunities for such activities are provided at appropriate times and settings. Discussions are underway to better communicate guidelines and expectations moving forward.

No disciplinary action was taken in response to this situation, and productive conversations have taken place between the students, the organization’s faculty sponsors and ACU Student Life staff.