“UC Hastings College of the Law can deny recognition and funding to a Christian student group because it excludes gays, lesbians and non-Christians, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The San Francisco law school is entitled to require official student organizations to ‘accept all comers as members, even if those individuals disagree with the mission of the group,’ the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled. It said the school’s policy is ‘viewpoint-neutral’ and does not violate the rights of the Christian Legal Society.” [SF Gate]
strumpetwindsock
It’s not discriminatory at all (though I have no doubt this will touted as the latest case of “christophobia”).
The college is just ensuring that any group they fund complies with their policy of equal access. They want the money? Open the damn door.
strumpetwindsock
Forgot to add…. cute headline aside, what they are actually doing is refusing to SUPPORT discrimination.
Andrew Triska
@strumpetwindsock: Absolutely right. The school’s not denying their right to assemble. They’re just not going to pay for pizza at their meetings. Makes sense. Funding for student groups is there to ensure everyone has an enjoyable college experience, not for people to pick and choose who they want in their clubs. If a gay campus group turned down one of the Christian group’s members, our reaction should be the same.
Konrad
That’s stupid. You canonly have a campus group if the group has no meaning? Homophobes should not be allowed to take over a gay group. Evangelical Protestants should not be able to raid the Hillel Club. Republicans should not stack the meetings of the College Democrats. This is just silly.
strumpetwindsock
@Konrad:
You’re right in theory, but how often does that scenario actually happen?
I can see the argument for restricting membership (or at least creating an exclusive space for) a group based on race, gender or orientation – but even then it establishes a risky precedent.
The most important thing is how can a club ask for a chunk of your student fees if they won’t let you in the door? Plus if someone does claim discrimination the student union is ultimately responsible.
If they want a closed-door club they should do it with their own resources and money.
Actually I heard a story on the news this morning about conservative (our Republicans) organizers at an Ontario university setting up fake non-political student clubs – the “Star Trek Club”, for example – to siphon student money and vote for conserative policies. here’s a press release:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/18/c9873.html