thefire.org

Rutgers University: Refusal to Allow Christian Clubs to Require Christian Leadership

The InterVarsity Multi-Ethnic Christian Fellowship at Rutgers University was banned from campus because of its rule that "leaders must seek to adhere to biblical standards and belief in all areas of their lives." Rutgers ruled that allowing a religious student group to select its leadership on the basis of religion constituted discrimination. FIRE wrote to the president of Rutgers, to the members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, and to the university's major donors, urging the administration to undo the damage to the Fellowship. FIRE Legal Network attorney David A. French also filed a lawsuit against Rutgers for violating the First Amendment rights of the Fellowship students. Soon after, Rutgers and the Fellowship released a joint statement announcing that they "have amicably resolved any and all issues regarding the status and governance of the fellowship."

Case Materials

• "Victory for Freedom of Conscience," April 2, 2003: In September 2002, Rutgers University denied the InterVarsity Multi-Ethnic Christian Fellowship, a student group, the right to take into account religious beliefs when selecting its leaders. A lawsuit, sponsored by the Alliance Defense Fund, was filed against Rutgers by FIRE Legal Network attorney David A. French on December 30, 2002. Rutgers has now settled with the group, and the students will be allowed to organize on Rutgers’ campus in a manner consistent with the purposes of their freedom to associate on the basis of their shared beliefs.
• "Joint Statement of Rutgers University, Division of Student Affairs, and the Rutgers InterVarsity Multi-Ethnic Christian Fellowship," April 1, 2003
• "Intervarsity Statement," January 13, 2003
• "InterVarsity Multi-Ethnic Christian Fellowship Banned at Rutgers University; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Threatened with Similar Punishment at UNC," December 30, 2002: Rutgers University and UNC-Chapel Hill have both denied Christian student groups the right to take into account religious beliefs when selecting religious leaders. A lawsuit was filed against Rutgers today by FIRE Legal Network attorney David A. French. The most fundamental constitutional and moral rights—freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, and due process—are all at stake at these state institutions.
• "FIRE Letter to Rutgers University President Richard L. McCormick, December 27, 2002," December 27, 2002
• "Complaint Filed Against Rutgers," October 11, 2002

Media Coverage

• "Campus Left to Christians, Conservatives: Shut Up!,"
  by Mark Tapscott, Townhall.com, December 24, 2005
• "Conformity on campus,"
  by Marvin Olasky, World Magazine, December 18, 2004
• "Survey: many college students fuzzy on first amendment rights,"
  by Associated Press, Black Issues in Higher Education, January 1, 2004
• "On Religion: Universities should honestly promote tolerance of views,"
  by Terry Mattingly, Naples Daily News, August 30, 2003
• "Christian Group Has Too Many Christians; Banned by Rutgers Until They Allow Non-Christian Leadership,"
  by Jack Kinsella, The Omega Letter, April 7, 2003
• "Rutgers Lifts Ban on Christian Fellowship,"
  The Washington Times, April 3, 2003
• "Rutgers Settles Lawsuit With Religious Group Whose Charter It Revoked,"
  by Megan Rooney, The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 3, 2003
• "Rutgers Lifts Ban on Christian Fellowship,"
  Newsmax, April 3, 2003
• "Scarlet Blight,"
  by Mark Earley, BreakPoint Online, March 25, 2003
• "Clubs Should Be Able to Choose Their Own,"
  Star Community Newspapers, January 15, 2003
• "InterVarsity's insistence on conservative Christian student leaders runs afoul of colleges' policies,"
  IDS News, January 15, 2003
• "Christian Student Group Sues Rutgers after University Revoked its Charter,"
  The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 10, 2003
• "Religious Cleansing On Campus,"
  by Michael Tremoglie, FrontPage Magazine, January 9, 2003
• "Interview With Greg Lukianoff,"
  FOXNews The Big Story, January 3, 2003
• "Rutgers to Christians: You Don't Gotta Have Faith,"
  Accuracy In Academia, January 3, 2003
• "Christian Group at Rutgers Put in Limbo,"
  United Press International, January 2, 2003