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University of Michigan sued over harrasment and bullying codes

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The US Department of Justice is weighing in on a free speech case involving the University of Michigan.

The university is embroiled in a lawsuit challenging the school’s disciplinary codes that prohibit harassment and bullying.

The group claims the university's policies infringe on people’s constitutional rights.

And the justice department agrees.  The department filed a brief in support of the plaintiffs Monday.

Devin O’Malley is a justice department spokesman:

“If we turned a blind eye to First Amendment rights on college campuses, then it’s only a matter of time before more and more rights of all individuals become infringed upon.”

The university insists the lawsuit and the justice department are seriously misstating university policy and painting a “false portrait of speech” on campus.