Northern Virginia Community College: Discrimination Against Political and Religious Student Groups

In February 2012, the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy was told that NOVA was "unable to fund any student organizations with a political agenda." NOVA policies additionally prohibited any student group "with a political or religious affiliation" from receiving funding from student activity fees. FIRE reminded NOVA in May 2012 of its obligation to ensure viewpoint neutrality in distributing student group funding, as decided by the Supreme Court in Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia (1995) and Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth (2000). On June 1, the Virginia Community College System informed FIRE that NOVA will reform its "outdated" policies to comply with the First Amendment.

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  • "Northern Virginia Community College Drops Discriminatory Funding Policy ," by Peter Bonilla, June 27, 2012: Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will revise policies that had prohibited religious and political student organizations from receiving funding from student activity fees. FIRE became involved after NOVA informed Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) that the college was "unable to fund any student organizations with a political agenda," citing NOVA policies banning funding to any groups "with a political or religious affiliation." After FIRE reminded NOVA of its obligation to ensure viewpoint neutrality in distributing student group funding, including for religious and political organizations, the Virginia Community College System stated that NOVA will reform its "outdated" policies to comply with the First Amendment.