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Prominent American university attempts to squash religious freedom

Faxecura

Member
Debate Over Religious Freedom Comes to a Head at Vanderbilt - FIRE

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 don’t 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
 

Heathen Hammer

Nope, you're still wrong
It's a private institution, and can set its own bylaws.

Exactly the same way the Cub Scouts can discriminate against gay members, if they so chose.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I agree with Heathen Hammer. Private institutions should be allowed to be as stupid as they want to be when it comes to bylaws - within the limits of the law.

Note to the religious - spend your tuition money elsewhere if Vanderbilt's ridiculous bylaws offend you.
 
First off it is obvious where your sympathies lie since you posted from a right wing blog which happens to be owned by a student at the university, but not from any mainstream source. Five minutes of going on Google and I was able to find this:

EDITORIAL: Vanderbilt in the right: Nondiscrimination policy ensures equality for all - Inside Vandy: Editorials

Tomorrow, nearly a year of conflict surrounding Vanderbilt's nondiscrimination policy's perceived incongruence with religious freedom comes to a head when university officials hold a town hall meeting to address student, faculty and staff concerns about the policy.

We support the university's decision to enforce its preexisting nondiscrimination policy and hope that the Vanderbilt community can accept the policy for what it is: protection for all against discrimination by university-sanctioned groups.

Chancellor Zeppos made it patently clear in his Jan. 20 email to the student body that the university, "requires all Vanderbilt registered student organizations to observe our nondiscrimination policy. That means membership in registered student organizations is open to everyone and that everyone, if desired, has the opportunity to seek leadership positions."

So first off the non-discrimination policy had already been in place for quite some time, and it was the religious groups who were violating it by discriminating against non-religious/LGBTQI individuals.

Second, the policy applies to all groups. Religious groups aren't being "singled out" - but I the religious have a strong defense mechanism. When someone wants you to stop discriminating you claim that you're the ones being persecuted.

Also the University wasn't "squashing religious freedom". The constitution is not a legally binding document to anyone who has not mutually signed it, and therefore certainly does not entail any agreement two third parties, in this sense a university and its students. At its broadest sense, it only dictates what the Federal government can and can't do. As a private university they have the right to set whichever requirements they so desire. Not only that, but the amendments are just that: an *amendment* which was not a part of the original constitution. It can easily be amended over again to fit the current needs of our society and indeed there are provisions that can be applied to ensure that everyone's rights are protected.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I guess this is a nice policy. Anti-gay rights individuals should definitely be able to join gay rights groups - en masse if they like. White separatists and white supremacists should definitely be able to join the NAACP on campus as well. If enough of them join, heck they can win some elections for officer positions in any number of such organizations. I can't imagine why a white supremacist shouldn't be president of Vanderbilt's NAACP chapter.

Power to the people!
 

Faxecura

Member
I guess this is a nice policy. Anti-gay rights individuals should definitely be able to join gay rights groups - en masse if they like. White separatists and white supremacists should definitely be able to join the NAACP on campus as well. If enough of them join, heck they can win some elections for officer positions in any number of such organizations. I can't imagine why a white supremacist shouldn't be president of Vanderbilt's NAACP chapter.

Power to the people!

We know it's not going to work that way. The University will figure out a way to allow the atheists, Jews, Hindus, or whatever to keep their "freedom of association" while going after Christians. From what I've seen, whenever they have bylaws like this, it's always directed at the more conservative groups, in practice.
 

McBell

Resident Sourpuss
I guess this is a nice policy. Anti-gay rights individuals should definitely be able to join gay rights groups - en masse if they like. White separatists and white supremacists should definitely be able to join the NAACP on campus as well. If enough of them join, heck they can win some elections for officer positions in any number of such organizations. I can't imagine why a white supremacist shouldn't be president of Vanderbilt's NAACP chapter.

Power to the people!

I was unawares that White Supremacy was a religion...
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
It would appear that any "Approved" organisation may not have its own rules of membership.
This is somewhat counter productive. if the Rowing club is open to non rowers...and who could eventually take over the club..
I can see no harm what so ever in having select organisations catering solely to the needs of their own membership. Such clubs in the UK often have a social membership category, but social members can not gain authority over the clubs core interest. Most such clubs require individual election by the existing membership to be able to join.

Neither selection nor qualification are Discriminatory
 
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Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
We know it's not going to work that way. The University will figure out a way to allow the atheists, Jews, Hindus, or whatever to keep their "freedom of association" while going after Christians.
Contrary to semi-popular belief, we heathens aren't "going after" Xians.
Vanderbilt's policy seems loopy, but I wonder if it would even have any noticeable effect.
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
It may be legal, but I say it´s wrong.

If they are talking about membership to RELIGIOUS groups then religious discrimination makes perfect sense.

The same way you use academic discrimination to accept or not peole into a college. Is just meant to be.

I say the policy is ridiculous, but maybe I understood it incorrectly?
 
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Kilgore Trout

Misanthropic Humanist
Personally, I don't understand why a gay person would want to hang out with a bunch of small-minded, ignorant bigots anyway. But, I suppose they should have the freedom to do so if they want.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
You (the OP) do realize that this protects Christians from being discriminated against in other clubs too, right?
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
You (the OP) do realize that this protects Christians from being discriminated against in other clubs too, right?

I am not following.

I think the idea should be that religious groups could pick their leaders basing themselves on religious qualities.

Non-religious groups should indeed be forced to not discriminate in base of religion though.

It´s like, a chess group´s leader needs to play chess. He is going to be discriminated about that for taking leadership, not about reilgion. A religious group should discriminate in base of religion. It makes sense.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Personally, I don't understand why a gay person would want to hang out with a bunch of small-minded, ignorant bigots anyway. But, I suppose they should have the freedom to do so if they want.
Why? Tis obvious!
Same reason that needy women marry the wrong men....
To change them.
(It works so well.)

Seriously though, I've found that bigoted folk can sometimes be influenced to be less so.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
I am not following.

I think the idea should be that religious groups could pick their leaders basing themselves on religious qualities.

Non-religious groups should indeed be forced to not discriminate in base of religion though.
You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you don't want to be discriminated against based on your religion, then you can't discriminate others based on their religion.

Me Myself said:
It´s like, a chess group´s leader needs to play chess. He is going to be discriminated about that for taking leadership, not about reilgion. A religious group should discriminate in base of religion. It makes sense.
I agree with the principle. The law is just that you can't deny people access because of their religion. So, yes, some no-nothing atheist could be admitted to your Christian group. But he'd still have to abide by your rules, ie, disruptive behavior could be grounds for being kicked out.

Likewise, the rule doesn't say you have to elevate the atheist to leadership positions. It just says that he should be given the opportunity like anyone else. There are (or at least should be) other criteria for a leadership of a club than just his religious affiliation, like whether he is a good organizer, whether he displays knowledge of the club and the topic, whether he is a good ambassador for the club, etc. Just like the chess noob probably won't be elected to lead the chess club, the atheist probably won't be elected to lead the Christian club.
 

Drolefille

PolyPanGeekGirl
Usually these rules prohibit discrimination based on protected classes. This doesn't mean that non-rowers can be president of the rowing club, it just means that the rowing club can't prevent a gay, christian, Indian, woman from a member of their club.

A recent similar case involved a Christian singing group expelling a member for being gay. But because they couldn't expel him for BEING gay, they expelled him on the grounds that he didn't adhere to the code of conduct which prohibited homosexual activity. Weaselly as hell, and the gay student was himself a Christian IIRC, he certainly was a singer and wasn't there to cause trouble but to participate.

(FOUND IT!)
The Daily Tar Heel :: UNC Christian a cappella group ousts gay member
The decision, along with the group’s status as a student organization, highlights a gray area in the University’s non-discrimination policy. The policy gives student groups the right to limit membership to those who share a certain set of ideas, as long as no student is excluded on the basis of personal characteristics — including sexual orientation.

They may have technically gotten away with that one, assuming the case is settled, but that is what this is typically for. Is there something different about this school's rules?
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you don't want to be discriminated against based on your religion, then you can't discriminate others based on their religion.

I am afraid i don't understand what this has to do with that quote.
Considering i share the opinion expressed on that post, i would appreciate a clarification.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
I guess this is a nice policy. Anti-gay rights individuals should definitely be able to join gay rights groups - en masse if they like. White separatists and white supremacists should definitely be able to join the NAACP on campus as well. If enough of them join, heck they can win some elections for officer positions in any number of such organizations. I can't imagine why a white supremacist shouldn't be president of Vanderbilt's NAACP chapter.

Power to the people!
It's not about joining the group --if a gay person wants to join an anti-gay group, he does so of his own accord. The policy is just about electing leadership. If a Christian group happens to be composed of mostly Christians, the non-Christians shouldn't be discriminated against.
 
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