Posted on 08/15/2006 1:01:42 PM PDT by fgoodwin
University of Wisconsin ignores the law, refuses to recognize Christian student organizations
http://alliancedefensefund.org/news/pressrelease.aspx?cid=3820
ADF attorney calls university officials to account for discriminatory actions
Monday, August 07, 2006, 5:15 PM (MST)
ADF Media Relations | 480-444-0020
MADISON, Wis. The director of the Alliance Defense Funds Center for Academic Freedom sent a letter to University of Wisconsin officials today warning them about the illegality of their continued de-recognition of Christian student groups.
"Christian student groups shouldnt be treated differently from other student organizations, said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David French, who wrote the letter. The University of Wisconsin has decided to force campus student organizations to violate their core beliefs, even in the face of controlling federal case law that bars them from doing so.
This is just another example of the universitys position of free speech for me, but not for thee, French added. The double standard here is amazing. To the University of Wisconsin, Christian speech must be marginalized or censored, while, at the same time, the University enthusiastically proclaims that the First Amendment protects Professor Kevin Barrett, a radical conspiracy theorist, when he advances his bizarre theory that the government staged the September 11, 2001, attacks. Even worse, the university is apparently willing to defy binding court decisions for the sake of excluding Christians.
In recent weeks, the University of Wisconsin-Superior has denied recognition of the schools InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has derecognized the Knights of Columbus. They allege the groups are in violation of the school anti-discrimination policy by not allowing non-Christians to serve in leadership positions. Non-recognized groups are denied access to campus facilities and student funding.
In his letter to university officials, French cited the recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in which the court reinstated the official recognized status of the student Christian Legal Society (CLS) chapter at the Southern Illinois University School of Law (http://www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3798). CLS attorneys and ADF-allied attorney David O. Edwards of the Springfield law firm Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Breedlove, represented the CLS chapter in the case. The University of Wisconsin is located in the same federal circuit as Southern Illinois University and is under authority of that court.
A copy of Frenchs letter to the university officials can be read at http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/UWIVCFletter.pdf
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
http://www.telladf.org
Why do people pay good money to go to a college that discriminates against them? Keep funding them and they will continue to prosper.
Lord, please sock it to the idiot traitorous jerks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.