Debate Over Religious Freedom Comes to a Head at Vanderbilt - FIRE
Perspective from a student at Vanderbilt: #WeAreVanderbiltToo
Local Media Coverage: Vanderbilt defends nondiscrimination policy for student groups | The Tennessean | tennessean.com
This evening, Vanderbilt University will hold a town hall discussion about its new nondiscrimination policy that prevents belief-based student groups from making belief-based decisions about their leadership. Vanderbilt effectively is discriminating against political and religious groups that seek to promote a common message.
so far, Vanderbilt has ignored the concerns of FIRE; the Christian Legal Society; the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nashville; the American Center for Law and Justice; more than half a dozen law professors; leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the Southern Baptist Convention; and no fewer than 23 members of the U.S. Congress, all of whom had the same or similar objections to the policy. Vanderbilt's response on these substantive questions? Silence.
Students and alumni have been galvanized to action. A group called Restore Religious Freedom at Vanderbilt has formed to oppose the new policy, and is even running radio ads in Nashville opposing the change. The Vanderbilt College Republicans have joined them and have produced a video featuring students who oppose the new policy.
Perspective from a student at Vanderbilt: #WeAreVanderbiltToo
I like nondiscrimination. I like openness and diversity. What I dont like, though, is what this policy is asking religious organizations to do.
In the words of Dean Bandas, a group must sign a form affirming they will comply with university policies, which require that membership in registered student organizations be open to everyone and that everyone who desires to do so has the opportunity to seek leadership positions in those organizations.
By signing on the dotted line, a religious organization is saying that it will not discriminate based on religious beliefs when making leadership decisions.
Local Media Coverage: Vanderbilt defends nondiscrimination policy for student groups | The Tennessean | tennessean.com