A former University of Oklahoma volleyball player has filed a lawsuit against the school alleging she was discriminated against based on her political views.
Kylee McLaughlin says she was kicked off the volleyball team for being a conservative Christian, violating her First Amendment rights, Oklahoma’s News 4 reported on Thursday.
After McLaughlin criticized a movie on racism and slavery the team was made to watch and publicly denounced students at the University of Texas calling to drop that school’s fight song over what they say is a racist history, she reportedly “was told she did not fit the culture of the program and they could not trust her based on comments she has made in the past.”
Her criticisms of the movie included that it “was slanted ‘left’ and that it took some shots at what President Trump said and compared it with beatings of Blacks from the 1960s.”
McLaughlin was allegedly told she could stay on the team but take a redshirt season, be kicked off the team but keep her scholarship or transfer schools.
She initially stayed on the team but then later transferred.
“When she’s creating a situation that is a hostile environment for some of her other teammates then the coaches must act to the benefit of her team,” attorney Jacqui Ford told News 4.
“From what I can tell she hasn’t suffered any damages. She was given options to remove herself from the situation, so, she’s not damaged. I think that’s gonna be a huge obstacle for her and for her lawyers to overcome,” Ford added.
McLaughlin reportedly wants a minimum of $75,000 for financial loss, humiliation and mental anguish and suffering.
“It’s not the practice of the university to comment on pending litigation. OU is aware of the suit and will respond as appropriate,” a spokesperson for the school’s athletic department said in a statement.
Updated at 1:09 p.m.