[tptacek]

That evidence was likely inadmissable because the case wasn't about whether Gibson's was racist. It's difficult to defame someone by calling them "racist", which is to a large extent a subjective statement of opinion. Defamation must comprise false statements of fact. Oberlin can probably arrange a boycott of Gibson's owing to their racism. What they can't do is circulate flyers saying that Gibson's employees assaulted Oberlin students when that didn't happen.

Regardless, this is new information for me; thanks for posting it.