When some folks think of college sororities and fraternities, they think of parties. But this week, certain sororities and fraternities in California were not in a partying mood.
That’s because the US Supreme Court was in the house.
Here’s the story: The Alpha Gamma Omega-Epsilon Chapter fraternity and the Alpha Delta Chi-Delta Chapter sorority sued San Diego State University in 2005 because of a campus policy that prohibited the two groups from limiting their membership to only Christians.
The university agreed the two groups had the right to a organize a limited membership program. However, campus authorities refused to provide funding and other campus benefits to the groups as the schools do not allow discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin and sexual orientation.
The two organizations argued that the ban unfairly targeted religious organizations. They claimed, under the policy, secular organizations are allowed to make viewpoint-based distinctions (the college Republicans, for example, can opt not to admit a Democrat). They also added the policy specifically exempts Greek life organizations from the ban on gender discrimination.
The litigation went all the way to The Supreme court who recently upheld a previous decision in the University’s favor.
Some celebrate the decision as a step forward for equal rights for students.
Curtis Lester, President of the Aztec Christian Association at San Diego State said,
“I think it’s a great policy. I don’t think there should be any discrimination at all, in any way.”
Others criticize the decision as unfairly limiting the free activity of student organizations.
Unaffiliated campus organizations are banned from privileges such as getting student funding, posting signs on campus, reserving office and meeting space, using the school name or mascot and promoting themselves on the university website.
So what do you think? Does this policy unfairly target religious organizations? Or is it a step in the right direction for free speech?
