When Vanderbilt University introduced its new "nondiscrimination policy" for registered student organizations back in January of this year, the Vandy administration was met with an irate group of students from religious student organizations that would be negatively affected by the new rule.
As these students—along with many other organizations and individuals, including the Christian Legal Society, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nashville, the American Center for Law and Justice, more than half a dozen law professors, and 23 members of the U.S. Congress—pointed out at the time, the policy essentially dictates that religious and political organizations cannot determine their leadership based on the very things that make those groups unique: their beliefs and viewpoints. Not only are the opinions of potential leaders not to be a factor in determining their leadership, student group members are not allowed to vote out student leaders if they change their minds. For example, if the president of the College Democrats were to decide to disaffiliate with the Democratic Party and join the Tea Party Express, the members of the College Democrats could not oust him.
Read Full Article »