Center Gains Recognition for North Dakota Christian Student
Group
In 2002, The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) Chapter
at the University of
North Dakota sought to
affiliate with the national CMDA organization and to receive formal
recognition as a student organization from the University of North
Dakota. The chapter therefore adopted the constitution recommended
by the national CMDA organization and submitted its constitution to the
University of North Dakota’s Student Policy Committee (SPC), the campus
group that decides whether or not the University will recognize an
organization.
After the CMDA chapter submitted its constitution to the SPC, a
member of the SPC informed the chapter it would not consider the
chapter’s constitution unless the chapter severed its ties with the
national CMDA organization. The SPC claimed the chapter’s
statement of faith, outlined in its constitution and required by the
national CMDA organization, was inconsistent with the University’s
non-discrimination policy.
The chapter contacted Center attorneys for assistance, and we sent a
demand letter to the University in December 2003. In the letter we
urged the University to revise its non-discrimination policy and
recognize the chapter. If the University officials failed to
comply, we assured them we would file a lawsuit to secure the chapter’s
religious liberty.
Last week the University informed Center attorneys that the SPC met
and voted to change the constitution template for student organizations
by deleting the words “religion,” “creed,” and “sexual orientation” from
the University’s non-discrimination policy. The University also
indicated it will invite the chapter to resubmit its constitution to the
SPC. If its constitution is approved, the chapter will be a
recognized student organization.
Ohio
State
University
Officials Silent During 90 Day Review Process
The Christian Legal Society Chapter at
Ohio
State
University
was accused of
violating the University’s non-discrimination policy. The
University consequently threatened to revoke the chapter’s recognition
and benefits associated with recognition. Center attorneys sent a
demand letter to the University and urged University officials to revise
its non-discrimination policy and recognize the chapter.
After extensive communication between Center attorneys and University
officials, the University decided to follow a 90 day review process,
during which it would decide whether or not to recognize the CLS chapter
and to amend the University's non-discrimination policy. The
University officials additionally indicated they would hold weekly
meetings to address this situation and they would give Center attorneys
an update after each meeting.
The 90 day review will end on March 4. The University has not
informed the Center of any meetings or any progress towards a decision
in the past two months. We urge you to contact the Ohio State
University President, Karen A. Holbrook, to ask her to amend the
University's non-discrimination policy to exempt religious groups from
the bans on creed, religion, and sexual orientation
discrimination. This exemption would not only secure recognition
and benefits for the CLS chapter at
Ohio
State, but all religious
student organizations on campus facing similar situations. The
President’s contact information is Karen A. Holbrook, 205 Bricker Hall,
190 North Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210-1357, Phone (614) 292-2424, Fax
(614) 292-1231, E-mail Pearl Bigfeather, Chief of Staff and Special
Assistant to the President, bigfeather.1@osu.edu.
