FREE SPEECH 'TRAMPLED' IN WAWOTA

I just read your article on the incident at the Wawota School ("Views
on drugs lead to suspension", Leader-Post, June 13) and, as a
second-year law student at the University of Western Ontario, this
story just outrages me.

The principal is abusing her authority and trampling all over this
young man's freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms, perhaps the single most important right or
freedom guaranteed in this country.

This principal's behaviour is inexcusable.

This young man and his family need to know that he probably has a
very strong civil/tort case against the principal and the school.

Specificially, there's a good chance he could nail them for malicious
prosecution and should get in touch with a lawyer immediately, if he
has not done so already.

I'm sure a lawyer with experience in this field could think of
additional grounds with which to sue the principal and the school board.

People like this principal must realize that their position of
government authority does not entitle them to act as arbitrarily as a
feudal lord just because they've heard something that they disagree with.

Craig Potter

London, ON