"Equal Access" For High School Groups Under Federal Law Interpreted

In ALIVE v. Farmington Public Schools, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65326 (ED MI, Sept. 5, 2007), a Michigan federal district judge granted a permanent injunction to a Christian student group in a case that interprets what is meant by “equal access” under the federal Equal Access Act and under Michigan's similar law. The court found that ALIVE is entitled to all the privileges granted by Farmington High School to any other student group, including meeting under the same terms and conditions as other noncurriculum-related groups; advertising its meetings over the public address system, internal TV network and on bulletin boards; listings on the school’s website and in its yearbook; and use of photocopying machines. LifeSiteNews reported on the case on Sept. 12.