Penn State alumnus settles federal suit over brick

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — James Pursley, a self-described “proud alumnus of Penn State University” and a “devout Christian,” will get a memorial brick on campus inscribed the way he wants.
The university has settled Pursley’s federal lawsuit by admitting “one of our 40,000 employees made a mistake,” university spokesman Bill Mahon said.

A brick with the message “Joshua 24:15” is to be placed in the walk outside the Penn State Alumni Association’s headquarters on campus when the next batch of bricks is bought, Mahon said.
Pursley’s desired inscription was rejected because of a misinterpretation of the nondiscrimination policy that is part of the Alumni Walk fundraising initiative, and not an intentional act, Mahon said.

Pursley, a 2001 graduate, sued in U.S. Middle District Court after the university rejected the inscription and offered the former football player a full refund of $250.

“As the university has allowed many other personal messages on the bricks, this is a blatant case of content viewpoint discrimination against religious speech in a public forum,” Pursley said in his suit.
The court complaint cited inscriptions on bricks already in the walk including: “May God Bless Penn State,” “Merry Christmas” and “PSU Proud.”

Pursley claimed in his suit he was told his inscription was rejected because policy prevented acceptance of religious messages.
The alumni association has sold about 2,600 bricks, most of them containing the names, year of graduation and major of members, said Roger Williams, association executive director.