The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 this month that the Virginia regulation that prohibits college publications from printing alcohol advertisements does not violate the students’ First Amendment rights. The ruling overturns a district court decision striking down the prohibitions as not sufficiently tailored to advance the state’s interest in curbing underage and binge drinking.
Case: Educational Media Co. at Virginia Tech, Inc. v. Swecker, No. 08-1798 (4th Cir. April 19, 2010)
SPLC View: Frankly, this decision comes as a surprise. In recent years, courts