A KU lawyer is researching the question of the university seal's constitutionality.
Kansas University's chief lawyer is researching a response to a question about the constitutionality of the university seal posed by the campus chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Victoria Thomas, KU general counsel, said it would be about two weeks before she recommends a reply to Chancellor Robert Hemenway.
The ACLU letter was addressed to Hemenway, and his office received it Thursday.
"I've been associated with KU for nearly 40 years and I've looked at that seal almost every day," Thomas said. "I'm fairly confident there is no endorsement of religion associated with it and no violation of the Constitution.
"But, I reserve the right to amend my opinion."
Kevin Sivits, KU ACLU president said if KU answers as Thomas indicated, the campus group would send the answer to the Kansas and Western Missouri ACLU. That body, which oversees the KU chapter, would decide how to answer the university.
But, if Thomas amends her opinion he said the ACLU would work with KU to design a new seal.
KU ACLU is responding to a student question about the constitutionality of the seal, which the university has used since 1866. The student asked the ACLU if the seal did not violate the First Amendment's prohibition against government establishing a religion.
The seal depicts the scene from the biblical book of Exodus when Moses discovers a bush burning, but not being consumed by fire. Moses is kneeling before the bush to examine it. A sentence in Latin around the picture quotes Moses as saying he must look at the burning bush. It comes from Exodus.
According to the KU Web site, the seal depicts the scholar's search for knowledge.
-- Erwin Seba's phone message number is 832-7145. His e-mail address is eseba@ljworld.com.
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