Another lawsuit pitting a Christian student group against a university attempting to enforce antidiscrimination provisions has been filed-- this time against the University of Georgia. Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) is a fraternity of Christian male college students that requires its members to profess faith in Jesus Christ and to affirm a fundamentalist Christian doctrinal statement. The University of Georgia refused to re-register BYX as a recognized student organization in 2006 because the fraternity will not extend membership and eligibility for officership positions to all students regardless of religion. Yesterday, the Christian Legal Society and the Alliance Defense Fund filed suit on behalf of BYX (press release). The complaint (full text) alleges that the University's refusal violates BYX's rights to freedom of association, freedom of speech and expression, free exercise of religion and equal protection of the law. The case is Beta Upsilon Chi v. Adams, (MD GA, Dec. 5, 2006).
UPDATE: On Thursday, the University of Georgia agreed to recognize BYX as a registered student organization, and to exempt it from the University's non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy . (ADF Release). In its letter to BYX's attorney, the University said it will review its student organization policies in the near future. [Thanks to Joseph Knippenberg for the lead.]
