Two Christian organizations -- the Alpha Iota Omega fraternity at the
University of North Carolina and the Christian Legal Society chapter
at Arizona State University -- have been involved in lawsuits
regarding their rights as registered campus groups. Both groups filed
suits to retain their status as registered student organizations on
campus after their respective universities introduced
nondiscrimination policies -- in the UNC case, that student groups
must be open to all students, regardless of belief. In both cases,
the groups have argued that they should not be forced to have members
who weren't Christians -- in the Arizona State case, a spokesman said
that all students are welcome to attend its meetings, but only those
who agree with the group's mission statement could become leaders.
Should student religious groups be forced to add leaders who do not
agree with their teachings?
I like to see "We do not discriminate on the basis of race,
ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, creed,
sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability or veteran
status." It says that fairness is a real goal, but the itemization
also alerts us that these patterns of discrimination existed, and
still do. This is the statement that the student groups want to opt
out of. I hope the courts say no.
A close look at the history of these lawsuits brought by Christian
groups on campuses nationwide (about 50 of them) shows that what they
are really about is whether they can exclude gay and lesbian
students. It began at Tufts in 2000 when the Christian Fellowship
told a lesbian student that she could not become an officer.
After this, universities investigated more carefully whether
student organizations were complying with nondiscrimination policies,
and Christian organizations questioned whether they had to obey these
policies. Both the Arizona and Carolina university groups object to
admitting gay and lesbian students, as well as non-Christians.
What is at stake? Use of classrooms? Status as a duly recognized
student group? Club funds? We know these lawsuits touch upon some of
the most challenging and volatile controversies of our day.
How will we end discrimination against gay and lesbian citizens?
How will the right of each religious group to freely teach its
doctrine be respected? How will the rights of those who are not
religious or who believe in different religious doctrines also be
respected?
How great a difference should there be between what is appropriate
