Vanderbilt University is the latest school to face clashes between its nondiscrimination policy for recognized student groups and the membership criteria of student religious organizations. The Tennessean reported yesterday that the university has placed a dozen or so student groups, including 5 religious groups, on provisional status, asking them to come into compliance with the university's policy that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The Christian Legal Society says that the University also wants it to rewrite its policy that requires the group's president to lead Bible studies, because that would require officers to hold certain beliefs. Vanderbilt, a private school, has more leeway that public universities in regulating student groups. The controversy has gotten contentious. Stephen Siao, president of the Vanderbilt's Republican group says the school has launched an attack on religious groups to distance itself from its past reputation as a "Southern, white, rich and religious" enclave.
Meanwhile yesterday the University posted a statement on its website saying that only 8 student groups-- 5 of which are religious-- are not in compliance with the university's nondiscrimination policy. It says that it iscommitted to finding a solution, but added: "Student groups that wish to practice their faith are welcome at Vanderbilt; however, it is incumbent upon them to decide whether they wish to become registered student organizations at the university."
