Knowingly and willingly usually refers to the level level of awareness that is required to be held culpable for a crime or violation. If the Lambda school was u

Knowingly and willingly usually refers to the level level of awareness that is required to be held culpable for a crime or violation. If the Lambda school was unaware that they were committing the conduct proscribed by law then they would have a defense (assuming knowingly and willingly was the standard required). However they do not need to be aware that the conduct was proscribed by law, just of the the conduct itself.