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Impact Of Gibson's Bakery vs Oberlin College Case

A shoplifting incident in 2016 at an Oberlin store, and the clerk's reaction to it, led to a protest and a call for boycott by Oberlin College students. They claimed the store is racist -- the shoplifter was black, the clerk, white. But this case goes way beyond the misdemeanor charges to which the student and two others pleaded guilty. A jury said the university encouraged the protest and must be punished.

Mike McIntyre and a panel of guests including attorneys from both sides discuss the verdict handed down this month in the Gibson's Bakery: tens of millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages against the college. Is it a victory for the little guy or a blow to free speech?


  • Scott Mahoney, Reporter, The Chronicle-Telegram 
  • Rachelle Zidar, Attorney for Oberlin College, Wickens Law 
  • Owen Rarric, Attorney for Gibson’s Bakery, Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A.
  • Steve Volk, Emeritus Professor of History, Oberlin College 
  • Ted Diadiun, Columnist, Cleveland.com 
lisa.ryan@ideastream.org | 216-916-6158