Religious Freedom

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:10:11 +0000

August 7, 2018

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

For Immediate Release: August 7, 2018

Media Contact: Melinda Skea media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7224

UPDATE: The University of Iowa has agreed to temporarily reinstate ��Ƶ and all other religious groups that the University had recently deregistered. This information is now available online at the Becket Law website.

MADISON, WI–An ��Ƶ student group at the University of Iowa is fighting for the right to ask its leaders to be Christians. In ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship v. University of Iowa, a student group is suing the University after it was kicked off campus for requiring its leaders to agree with its faith. Almost 40 other student groups —including the Sikh Awareness Club, the Chinese Student Christian Fellowship, the Imam Mahdi Organization, and the Latter-day Saint Student Association—were also expelled by the University at the same time. Becket filed the lawsuit on August 6, 2018 on behalf of ��Ƶ, seeking to get the group back on campus in time for the fall semester.

��Ƶ has been a part of campus life for 25 years, welcoming all students as members. But like the over-500 other student groups on campus, it has a distinct mission and asks its leaders to embrace that mission. In June, the University abruptly ordered the group to drop its religious leadership standards within two weeks, stating that leaders could not even be “strongly encouraged” to share its faith. And in late July, after ��Ƶ explained why it couldn’t eliminate its leadership standards, the University officially derecognized the group, along with dozens of other religious and ideological student groups.

“We’re grateful to have been part of the University community for 25 years, and we think that the University has been a richer place for having Sikh, Muslim, Mormon, Catholic, Jewish, atheist, and Christian groups.” said Kristina Schrock, student president of ��Ƶ Graduate Christian Fellowship. "Because we love our school, we hope it reconsiders and lets religious groups continue to authentically reflect their religious roots.”

��Ƶ’s 25 years on campus include hosting Bible studies and worship services, sponsoring discussions on important issues, and participating in community service activities such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and the Johnson County C.R.O.P. Hunger Walk (where it’s been the top fund-raiser in six of the last seven years). The group is made up of a diverse collection of multiethnic and international students, and it welcomes all to join as members. While the University deemed ��Ƶ’s religious leadership requirement “non-compliant” with its non-discrimination policy, it has exempted or ignored leadership and membership restrictions set by other student groups, such as sports clubs, fraternities, and political organizations. The University’s action against ��Ƶ comes after another religious group’s lawsuit challenged the school’s discriminatory application of its policy.

“If public universities really want to foster an intellectually diverse environment, this isn’t how to do it,” said Daniel Blomberg, senior counsel at Becket, which is representing ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship. “Universities should allow students the space to form their own groups that challenge and grow their sincere beliefs. Banning religious groups from having religious leaders just flattens diversity and impoverishes the campus.”

_{Photo: Schaeffer Hall at the University of Iowa, By Vkulikov - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28272266}

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Campus Access

Religious Freedom

Nondiscrimination

��Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 17:07:03 +0000

Press Room

June 6, 2018

��Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2018

Media Contact: Melinda Skea | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7224

(Madison, WI) – For the second time in three months ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship is fighting for its right to continue serving at the same campus it has been on for over 75 years.

In ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University, the Wayne State ��Ƶ chapter is asking the court to protect its right to continue being a part of the Wayne State campus community. Michigan-based Wayne State claims ��Ƶ is breaking the rules by asking its leaders to share its faith, even though it lets more than 90 other student groups choose their own leaders. Now the University is asking a federal court to give it the power to kick the group off campus any time.

“Wayne State allows 90 student groups to make their own rules for leaders—everyone from fraternities to the Quidditch Club,” said Lori Windham, Senior Counsel at Becket, which represents the student group. “But Wayne State can’t wave a magic wand and make the Constitution disappear. Christian student groups have the same rights as everyone else.”

��Ƶ welcomes all students to join as members and only requires that its leaders agree with its faith. But in late 2017, Wayne State kicked the group off campus, canceled the group’s reserved meetings, and forced it to pay thousands of dollars to continue holding Bible studies on campus—all because it disagreed with ��Ƶ’s leadership requirement. After ��Ƶ filed a lawsuit, represented by Becket, the University let the group back on campus. But the University is still trying to force ��Ƶ off campus.

The University’s actions ignore the rich history of ��Ƶ’s student group at Wayne State, which is one of the oldest chapters in the country. ��Ƶ has held weekly Bible studies and organized service opportunities on campus for over 75 years, including repairing buildings in downtown Detroit and serving at the local food pantry. The student group is asking the court to permanently protect its ability to be a part of, and continue serving, the Wayne State community.

“Wayne State’s actions threaten not just ��Ƶ but all the religious groups who depend on student leaders who share their faith,” said Windham.

Becket filed two briefs seeking a permanent fix to the school’s discriminatory policy, which also highlights a list of more than 90 groups who are allowed to choose leaders who agree with them, while ��Ƶ is not.

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Melinda Skea at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7224.

Additional Information:

Becket’s memo in response to Wayne State’s motion to dismiss (June 4, 2018)
Becket’s Filing 2reply in support of ��Ƶ’s motion for summary judgment (June 5, 2018)
Release: 48 hours later, Wayne State allows Christian student group back on campus temporarily
ABC News: Should campus religious groups be allowed to require leaders to follow their faith?
Detroit News Editorial: WSU errs in ousting Christian group
Becket’s Complaint in ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University
Case Page for ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University

###

Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions and has a 100% win-rate before the United States Supreme Court. For over 20 years, it has successfully defended clients of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians (read more here).

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��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 14:55:23 +0000

Press Room

March 7, 2018

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Melinda Skea | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7224

UPDATE: ��Ƶ's Wayne State University chapter has been allowed back on campus. More information in this Becket news release.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –��Ƶ is fighting for its right to continue serving at a campus it has been on for over 75 years. In ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University, an ��Ƶ Christian Fellowship student group, represented by Becket, sued Michigan-based Wayne State University after school officials stripped them of official recognition just because the group requires its leaders to affirm their faith. Wayne State has over 400 student groups that contribute to its intellectual and cultural diversity, all of which are free to select leaders who embrace their missions—except, suddenly, one Christian student group.

��Ƶ welcomes all students to its meetings and to join as members. It requires only that its leaders believe in and live out its faith. Yet in 2017, Wayne State rejected the group’s constitution, derecognized ��Ƶ, and cancelled all of ��Ƶ’s reserved meetings. After 75 years, Wayne State decided that ��Ƶ’s religious leadership requirements violated school policy. Meanwhile Wayne State actively violates its own policy in many of its programs, and allows dozens of other larger student groups do the same.

“��Ƶ just wants to continue to serve Wayne State students as we have for 75 years,” said Greg Jao, ��Ƶ Director of External Relations. “Students should be able to find a campus community which reflects their faith tradition with authenticity and integrity.”

��Ƶ Christian Fellowship at Wayne State is one of the oldest ��Ƶ chapters in the country, and has held weekly Bible studies, meetings, and organized service opportunities on campus for over 75 years. In 2009 the group sponsored a series of campus events that raised awareness regarding human trafficking. And the group regularly hosts discussions of important issues, like the intersection between faith, race, and social justice.

Now ��Ƶ is given second-class status, forced to rent tables like outside vendors if it wants to host discussions or reach out to new students. It can no longer reserve meeting rooms for free like other student groups.

Additional information, including the Complaint (February 28, 2018), Press Kit and Case page is available here: https://www.becketlaw.org/case/intervarsity

Photo: Del Arte via Wikipedia

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U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing Report

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:32:43 +0000

News

March 26, 2013

Gordon Govier

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing Report

The U.S. Commission of Civil Rights is focusing on legal tension at the intersection of nondiscrimination policies and religious freedom. A briefing was held before the commission on March 22, 2013, and a report is anticipated by the end of the year.

��Ƶ is grateful to the commission for taking up this issue. ��Ƶ staff and students have experienced this tension on more than 40 campuses over the past dozen years, particularly since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Christian Legal Society v. Martinez.

Concerns about Religious Freedom

During the briefing, Commission members showed sensitive concern regarding religious freedom. “Religious groups such as ��Ƶ are being substantially burdened by being forced off campus,” said Commissioner Peter Kirsanow. “There have been more pre-hearing comments about this issue than any other issue in my 12 years on the Commission.”

Attorney Kim Colby, an invited panelist who represents the Christian Legal Society, said, “Many school administrators don't understand religious groups. They think they are asking religious groups to make small changes in their constitutions but in reality they are asking students to recant their religious beliefs. In the name of inclusion, religious groups are being excluded from campus.”

Panelist Lori Windham, Senior Counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, added, “What you have lost is the ability of religious groups to retain their identity.“

Many Campuses Impacted

So far ��Ƶ staff or students representing more than 16 campuses have filed statements to be included in the public record of this briefing, detailing their experiences with nondiscrimination policies and religious student organizations.

In Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, the justices ruled that universities are allowed to institute all-comers policies, which require that student groups accept all students, as long as all student organizations are covered by the policy. ��Ƶ has always opened its activities to all students but we require chapter leaders to affirm basic Christian doctrines and a code of Christian conduct. Some schools have asked ��Ƶ to drop this requirement, because it seems to discriminate on the basis of religion.

In many cases, such as at the Universities of Michigan, Ohio State, and Minnesota, officials first raised the issue but then reached an accommodation or a policy change to allow faith-based campus organizations to avoid violating the nondiscrimination policy. But at a small number of campuses, such as Vanderbilt University, Rollins College, and Grinnell College, ��Ƶ has been derecognized and deprived of the privileges given to registered student organizations.

Summing it Up

The report of the Civil Rights Commission, when issued later this year, won’t have any legislative power, but it may influence legislation or legal rulings. ��Ƶ has more background on this issue in the Campus Access section of our website. Following the USCCR briefing, ��Ƶ's Greg Jao gave a short video report. The Christian Broadcasting Network also reported on the briefing.

News Keywords

Religious Freedom

Nondiscrimination

Campus Access

Religious Freedom

������Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

������Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

������Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

������Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

������Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case

������Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing Report

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing Report

Concerns about Religious Freedom

Many Campuses Impacted

Summing it Up

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom at Iowa

��Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

��Ƶ Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case

��Ƶ Defends Religious Freedom in Wayne State University Case