Commonwealth Policy Center

In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public universities could require student groups to admit members and leaders who didn’t share the beliefs and values consistent with the groups’ mission. The case was decided by a narrow 5-4 ruling and it’s been a problem to student groups, particularly Christian groups across the country. The latest controversy comes from Wayne State University in Detroit where InterVarsity Christian Fellowship lost its recognition as a student group because they require their leaders to be Christians. Wayne State accused InterVarsity of “making second-class citizens of students who refuse to accept their religious pledge.” The irony is that Wayne state is making InterVarsity second-class by disrespecting their core beliefs which defines their organization.