August 5, 2008"Undeclared" is often the most common answer from new college students when asked what they plan to major in. Rarely is that response challenged, because college is often a time for major life decisions, and rushing into declaring a major is not wise.
Our nation's universities are supposed to be environments that encourage serious thought about the future, intellectual conversation, and soul searching. However, at more and more universities, not all thoughts are welcome, especially Christian and pro-life voices.
University students shouldn't face discrimination for seeking to protect innocent life. Yet, that is exactly what's happening
right now on campuses nationwide, like Detroit's Wayne State University.
Andrea Bezaire, president of WSU Students for Life, asked for student fee funding for Pro-Life Week 2008 events. (As the Supreme Court declared in one of the earliest ADF-funded victories there, faith-based groups should be treated equally in such matters!!) WSU's budget committee said "No" "because of the spiritual and religious programming references in the cover letter." Pro-Life Week gives WSU students the option to "adopt" an unborn child by praying that a pregnant mother would choose to bring her child into the world through a live birth. Bezaire removed the reference to "prayer" and appealed, but again the university denied the group's entire budget request, saying the committee felt that the event's subject matter was inappropriate and would offend women who've had abortions.
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Universities cannot enforce policies designed to suppress student groups from presenting religious perspectives on societal issues," said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. "
Wayne State currently extends funding to student groups with a whole range of different views; it cannot single out this one for discrimination. What it really appears to come down to is that the values of Students for Life conflict with the politically-correct philosophies embraced by the university."
ADF attorneys have filed a suit against WSU challenging the constitutionality of the school's student fee policy.
You can read a copy of the complaint by clicking here.
WSU is sending the message that pro-life students are not welcome to introduce their opinions into the realm of intellectual thought at the university. It's the same message the University of Texas at San Antonio tried to send, but failed.
Students for Life, a registered student organization at UTSA, submitted a request to university officials for use of campus facilities for an outdoor exhibit demonstrating the horrors of abortion. Weeks of delays followed the request, right down to the wire. Additionally, the group was told they would have to pay for police security at the event. (This requirement was not imposed on any other student organizations at UTSA!!) Finally, just days before the event – after receiving a letter from an ADF-allied attorney – the Texas Attorney General's Office announced that UTSA had finally approved the request and rescinded its requirement that the club pay for police security.
Thankfully, the Texas Attorney General realized that penalizing a group of students solely for their Christian beliefs was unconstitutional. We trust the judges who will preside over the Wayne State University case will come to a similar conclusion. WSU Students for Life should not be denied access to any benefit that any other student group can have simply because of the group's "spiritual and religious programming." Andrea Bezaire and other members of the group have declared what they believe and should be praised for taking a stand in a hostile setting. We are standing with them and hope you will join us in prayer for them as well.
Together, we can reclaim our universities as the settings they should be - true learning environments that welcome Christian and pro-life students as warmly as any others.