To be completely correct, they were asked to use a "closed" room. The closing of the room likely is part of the issue, as well.
That, and I don't think it helped matters for Megan to refer to students who complained as 'pagans.' I read the whole piece and evidently a prayer group that met on the sidewalk in front of the school was okay as they weren't on school property - maybe it's an easement...?
Some pretty conflicting reports in this case going around - one says they were asked to use a "closed" room (which in most schools would be a no-no unless they had a faculty adviser. But this being a prayer group, I don't know if that would be allowed...
While other reports say that they had REQUESTED a room to use and were denied the use of a room.
Something is wrong - and as my distrust of public schools is rather strong (and I teach at a public school!), I tend to not trust the administration in this case.