NEW ORLEANS (CN) - An attorney sued Tulane University, claiming his alma mater defamed him and barred him from campus because he asked a campus police officer in a sauna whether he likes blow jobs - as part of a "Christian survey."
Pseudonymous plaintiff ABC sued the Board of Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund, TUPD, and their insurer, in Orleans Parish Court.
ABC claims he is a licensed attorney in Louisiana with 24 years experience, and has been a licensed real estate broker there for 30 years. He graduated from Tulane in 1982 with a bachelor's in management. "Up to this point, plaintiff has an excellent reputation in the Greater New Orleans community," he says in the complaint.
However, "On July 19, 2012, plaintiff was conducting a survey on behalf of a Christian group," the complaint states.
"ABC very politely asked Officer Daniel Haase whether he wished to answer a few questions of a rather sensitive nature," the complaint states. "ABC told him that he could decline to participate at any time. Officer Haase did not refuse. When ABC asked him Question 8 (Do you enjoy receiving oral sex?), he seemed taken aback and asked, 'What, you mean, like a blow job?' ABC replied, 'Well, I guess you could call it that, yeah, a blow job.' He said, 'No.' His reply was loud and definite, followed by a glare at ABC, who then terminated the interview and exited the men's sauna."
(According to the exhibit to the complaint, the questionnaire asks: "1. Are you male? 2. Are you female? 3. Are you married? 4. Are you unmarried? 5. (What) is your age group? ... 6. Do you enjoy sexual intercourse? 7. Do you enjoy giving oral sex? a. With a person of the opposite sex? b. With a person of the same sex? 8. Do you enjoy receiving oral sex? a. With a person of the opposite sex? b. With a person of the same sex? 9. Do you go to a place of worship to pray? ... [How often?] 10. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? 11. Are you an atheist or agnostic? 12. Do you believe in life after death?"
(The "Guidelines" on the one-page questionnaire, "Survey on Sexual Practices and Morality," state, inter alia, "This is an informal but scientific survey," to be handed in by the Aug. 6, 2012 Bible Study Group Class. "The results will be used as he or the group deems appropriate in their discussions and ministry.")
ABC claims in his lawsuit that the Tulane police who "descended upon him like a wolf pack" him never tried to verify that he really was conducting a survey.
The complaint states: "As ABC was packing to leave, Lt. S. Cosper and four or five officers arrived and descended upon him like a wolf pack. Lt. Cosper asked if he had used the words 'blow job.' ABC admitted that he had, but ABC was not allowed to explain that those 'majic words' [sic] were in response to a question. ABC was not allowed to clarify or explain the miscommunication or intent behind the question to Officer Haase. Lt. Cosper said that Officer Haase was not that offended and that the Reily facility wanted him out. ABC was faced with the prospect of either signing the 'restricted presence letter' or being detained for an indefinite period under unknown conditions and, possibly, in a holding cell.