University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire: Ban on RAs’ Leading Bible Studies

Case Materials

Media Coverage

  • "Restrictive policies under FIRE," Brian Reisinger, The Spectator, March 5, 2007
  • "Student's Lawsuit Compels UW to Lift RA-Led Bible Study Ban," Jim Brown, Agape Press, March 29, 2006: University officials originally justified the ban by suggesting that leading Bible studies would make RAs less "approachable" to non-Christian students. The school did not change its policy, even after the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education was contacted and sent a letter on Steiger's behalf to the administration explaining his rights.
  • "University of Wisconsin sets policy on disputed Bible studies," Associated Press, March 16, 2006
  • "Regents pass RA proposal," Emily Hartwig, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), March 13, 2006: After months of debate within the UW System with students, citizens, administrators, politicians and lawyers weighing in, the controversy concerning the activities RAs can lead in their residence halls has come to a close.
  • "RA-Led Bible Studies Impetus Behind Proposed UW System Policy," Jim Brown, Agape Press, March 10, 2006: A campus watchdog group is calling on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to rescind the school's Bible study ban and instead approve a new policy that would allow RAs lead or take part in Bible studies in their rooms.
  • "Free speech wins in new UW policy," The Sheboygan Press (Wis.), March 8, 2006: Though the policy was developed over a religious issue, we're glad to see Reilly and the UW acknowledging the right of free speech on other issues as well.
  • "Religious studies proposal respects everyone’s rights," La Crosse Tribune (Wis.), March 7, 2006: A compromise proposal before the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents resolves a potential church-state problem in a positive and common-sense way.
  • "UW System plan pleases religious group," George Hesselberg, Wisconsin State Journal, March 6, 2006: The group's interim president, Greg Lukianoff, suggested that the controversy's effect was not limited to religious freedom. "Everyone should be concerned about it. Though it has to do with one group of religious students, students not of that faith should also agree with it. The argument here is that the resident assistant should be treated with dignity and should be allowed to have a private sphere," he said.
  • "When freedoms clash," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 5, 2006: The new policy strikes a better balance. It would permit the assistants to host political or religious events provided they don't pressure the students in their charge to attend.
  • "Ignorance of our founding principles can endanger us all," Katherine Kersten, Star Tribune (Minneapolis–St. Paul), March 5, 2006: Last week, FIRE took a significant step toward guaranteeing religious freedom in our own back yard. Lukianoff reports that after months of pressure from FIRE, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire agreed to drop its policy banning student resident assistants from leading Bible studies (or Torah or Koran studies) in their dormitories. UW System President Kevin Reilly proposed repealing the ban, though the UW Board of Regents must approve.
  • "UW president recommends policy for resident assistants' meetings," Associated Press, March 2, 2006: University of Wisconsin System resident assistants could participate in or lead any meeting they want -- including Bible studies in their rooms -- so long as they did not coerce anyone into attending under a policy the school president proposed Wednesday.
  • "Knockin’ on heaven’s door," The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), March 2, 2006: This board commends the refreshingly expeditious manner in which the UW System addressed this controversial issue. We hope the Board of Regents also works swiftly and decisively to adopt this common-sense policy when it comes before the board.
  • "Fighting Against Political Correctness on Campus," Dave Eberhart, NewsMax, March 1, 2006
  • "Policy allows dorms RA's Bible study," George Hesselberg, Wisconsin State Journal, March 1, 2006: Steiger challenged UW-Eau Claire's unwritten policy after an administrator warned him in July and again in September that he could face discipline if he continued to hold Bible studies in his room. The official, associate housing director Deborah Newman, said Steiger's encouragement of people to participate in the studies conflicted with his responsibility to create a welcoming environment for other students.
  • "FIRE president speaks on campus," Brian Reisinger, The Spectator (UWEC), February 2, 2006: Restricting free speech to prevent people from feeling offended or uncomfortable should not be the prerogative of government or its affiliates, said Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
  • "Speaker was shocked by RA-Bible study ban," Mary Steigmeir, Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.), February 2, 2006: "Being offended is what happens when you have your deepest beliefs challenged," he said. "If you have not been offended by the time you graduate from college, ask for your money back."
  • "Public opinion sought in development of RA policy," Emily Hartwig, The Spectator (UWEC), January 26, 2006: FIRE refuses to support the working group's advice because it does not explicitly guarantee the right of RAs to hold Bible studies in their rooms.
  • "UWEC Bible study provokes controversy," Sinead Devlin, Ripon College Days (Wis.), January 25, 2006: Interim Chancellor Vicky Lord Larson received a letter from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Oct. 17 which cited the school's actions as an unlawful infrigement of First Amendment rights.The organization requested that UWEC immediately end the ban on Bible studies.
  • "UW advances own political agenda," Darryn Beckstrom, The Badger-Herald (UW-Madison), January 25, 2006: Not surprisingly, Mr. Reilly has not decided when he will make a final decision on the RA Bible study ban. And don’t expect him to make a decision any time soon. If Mr. Reilly was genuinely interested in protecting the marketplace of ideas we have come to expect at an institution of UW’s caliber — regardless of the speech’s popularity — the unconstitutional ban would have already been lifted.
  • "Univ. of Wisconsin Sidesteps System-Wide Policy on Bible Study Bans," Jim Brown, Agape Press, January 23, 2006: Having reviewed the report, FIRE says that the failure to recognize what it sees as a "glaring double standard" proves the school is "not serious about treating its students equally."
  • "Update: University Committee Approves Bible Study Ban," Nathan Burchfiel, Cybercast News Service, January 19, 2006: Lukianoff also expressed concern that the UWEC Office of Housing and Residence Life was promoting what he called a double standard because it "likes and endorses ... public and official politicized events, but doesn't seem to want to tolerate private religious expression."
  • "He who troubleth his own house…," The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), January 19, 2006: Since the UW Bible-study debacle began last year in Eau Claire, the UW Board of Regents has proven incompetent in handling the issue of an RA’s right to practice ideology.
  • "University Working on New Dorm Bible Study Policy," Nathan Burchfiel, Cybercast News Service, January 13, 2006: With the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire facing a federal lawsuit over alleged religious discrimination, the president of the state's university system this month will develop a system-wide policy regarding student employees who lead Bible studies on campus
  • "Network Aims to Help Harassed Campus Conservatives," Kelley Vlahos, Fox News, December 26, 2005: “It used to be that some conservatives would concentrate on putting their heads down and just getting through,” said David French, president of the legal group Foundation for Individual Freedom in Education, which recently supported the right of a University of Wisconsin resident assistant to hold Bible study sessions in his dorm. “Now they are more confrontational.”
  • "UW-Eau Claire decision limits its students' free speech rights," Kent Syverson, The Capital Times (Madison, Wisc.), December 20, 2005: I am a professor at UW-Eau Claire committed to the constitutional guarantee of freedom for all speech, popular or unpopular, religious or anti-religious. I am alarmed when ideas are restricted in the university.
  • "UW-Eau Claire RA says he was 'shocked' by Bible studies ban," Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, December 13, 2005: Lance Steiger of Minnesota told lawmakers he was stunned when a school official warned he could face disciplinary action for continuing to have weekly Bible studies in his dorm basement. He said he had never heard of the policy even though he had been a resident assistant for two years and said it was a clear violation of his free speech rights.
  • "UW president speaks up on Bible study controversy," Megan Twohey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 13, 2005: "I'm inclined to take a Wisconsin common-sense approach to this," Reilly said at a legislative hearing called by Rep. Rob Kreibich (R-Eau Claire), one of several legislators who view UW-Eau Claire's policy as a violation of resident assistants' free speech rights. "It seems resident assistants should be able to do anything they want as long as it's legal and ethical, as long as other students don't feel coerced, and that in doing those activities, they remain approachable."
  • "College should be a place of higher learning," Rick Esenberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 5, 2005: A society that permits freedom of expression cannot protect us from offense. Some people have half-baked political ideas. Others regard vulgarity and outrageousness as "transgressive" and "profound." Some people even read the Bible.
  • "UW-Eau Claire Faces Lawsuit Over School's RA-Led Bible Study Ban," Jim Brown and Jenni Parker, Agape Press, December 5, 2005: The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire is being sued over its ban on resident assistants (RAs) leading Bible studies in their dorm rooms -- a ban the school suspended one hour after a senior RA filed a federal lawsuit alleging UW had violated his free speech, freedom of association, equal access, religious freedom and due process rights.
  • "RA files lawsuit against university," Brian Reisinger, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), December 5, 2005: FIRE's statement was not declaring the suspension as a reaction to the lawsuit, said Charles Mitchell, program officer for FIRE. It was simply stating what appeared to be the order of events. "I don't know why the policy was suspended," he said. "If they suspended it because they've been getting bad PR, that's fine. If they suspended it because of the lawsuit, that's fine, or if they suspended it because they realized they were wrong, that's fine."
  • "Bible study conflict escalates to national issue," Megan Twohey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 4, 2005: Last month, the interim chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire hastily called a meeting of her executive staff. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education had just contacted her to complain that a resident assistant named Lance Steiger had been banned from hosting Bible study in his dorm. The chancellor sensed imminent controversy.
  • "Battle for free expression beginning," Charles Parsons, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), December 2, 2005: While Mr. Steiger and FIRE are no doubt basking in the warm glow of a well-fought skirmish, the battle — indeed, the war — has barely begun. Nothing short of a definitive legal ruling will ensure that this kind of abridgement of rights doesn’t continue in the UW System.
  • "University suspends policya," D. J. Slater, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), December 1, 2005: UW-Eau Claire has suspended its unwritten policy that places restrictions on resident assistants until it and the UW System complete their reviews.
  • "Eau Claire suspends Bible-study ban," Michael Gendall, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), December 1, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire announced Wednesday it will suspend its controversial Bible-study ban, effective immediately.
  • "Group sues UW-Eau Claire, regents over Bible studies ban," Associated Press, December 1, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire violated a student's constitutional right to free speech and religious freedom in banning him from leading Bible studies in his dorm room, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.
  • "UW-Eau Claire suspends Bible study ban," Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, November 30, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire suspended a practice Wednesday banning resident assistants from leading Bible studies in their dorm rooms after it was slammed by politicians and conservative groups as infringing on religious freedom.
  • "Controversy of Biblical proportions," Jake Herrera, The Daily Cardinal (UW-Madison), November 29, 2005: The problem is that the policy violates the healthy principles of the neutrality doctrine. The doctrine of neutrality is the view that government may not discriminate against or in favor of religion. For instance, if Madison passed a law outlawing the door-to-door activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it would have to extend the same restriction against all door-to-door solicitors. Even though UW’s policy does not exclusively bar resident assistants from leading just religious activities, it does not universally apply to all practices that could be considered divisive.
  • "Feelings trumping rights," David Limbaugh, Townhall.com, November 29, 2005: In the name of protecting all hypersensitive students' non-existent constitutional right to be free from the slightest discomfort at the hands of the state, this university has chosen to violate the most important right our Constitution does guaranty: religious liberty.
  • "Residents dislike Bible study ban," Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.), November 29, 2005: Most of the approximately 15 Chippewa Valley residents who spoke Monday night regarding UW-Eau Claire’s Bible study ban were cut from the same cloth: They oppose the college’s restrictions.
  • "University Asks for Legal Review of Bible Study Ban," Kathleen Murphy, Religion News Service, November 28, 2005: The University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire has asked the state attorney general to review the legality of its ban on resident assistants leading Bible studies in their dorms, a university spokesman said.
  • "Proponents obtain no legal opinion," Michael Gendall, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), November 28, 2005: The state’s attorney general’s office declined to offer a legal opinion regarding the controversial University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Bible-study ban last week. The office received requests from both the UW System and the delegation of 25 Republican legislators and both parties are disappointed with the recent declination.
  • "In Brief," Anne K. Walters, The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 25, 2005: The university system prohibits resident assistants from holding activities like religious studies or political events, but one at the Eau Claire campus says his constitutional rights are being violated by the ban on his holding Bible studies in his room. The student is being supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
  • "News from Around Wisconsin," Associated Press, November 23, 2005: The state's attorney general will not step into a contentious debate over a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire policy banning resident assistants from holding Bible studies in their dorm rooms.
  • "UW policy tramples on free speech," The Sheboygan Press (Wis.), November 23, 2005: We can't expect resident assistants to abandon all of their opinions, whether they are about religion, politics, sports, entertainment or the weather, just because someone might disagree with them or feel uncomfortable. We trust that the university is hiring people as resident assistants who are capable of dealing fairly with people who might not agree with them on any number of issues, religious or otherwise.
  • "Student Senate Postpones Debate on Bible Study," Sean Towle, WEAU-TV (NBC Affiliate), November 22, 2005: UW Eau Claire has come under scrutiny lately about a policy banning resident assistants from holding Bible studies in their dorm rooms.
  • "Local private colleges continue to allow Bible study in dorms," Sharon Roznik, The Reporter (Fond du Lac, Wis.), November 21, 2005: The state controversy began in July when an Eau Claire administrator banned RAs from leading private, non-school-sponsored Bible studies in their dorms. The concern was some students might feel RAs were unapproachable because of their religious beliefs. Meanwhile the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is blasting the state college for violating the basic civil liberties of students.
  • "Bible ban puts policy in national spotlight," John Brewer, Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.), November 20, 2005: "It's not rocket science to say, 'Let's have a marketplace of ideas,' " FIRE president David French said, criticizing the school's reaction to the Bible study matter. "As long as the communication is lawful, let the students engage in it."
  • "Attorney general refuses to give opinion," Brian Reisinger, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), November 20, 2005: The attorney general's office has declined to offer an opinion on the legality of UW-Eau Claire restricting senior resident assistant Lance Steiger from hosting Bible studies in his room or residence hall.
  • "David v. Goliath," Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.), November 19, 2005: Although his decision to challenge the policy means he’s spent a good portion of his senior year fielding questions from the press while looking for answers himself, Steiger doesn’t regret taking a stand.
  • "UW's Extension of RA-Led Bible Study Ban Draws FIRE's Protest," Jim Brown, Agape Press, November 18, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has asked the state Attorney General if it can constitutionally ban resident assistants, or RAs, from leading Bible studies in their dormitory rooms. Controversy erupted after university officials sent out a letter warning RAs they would face disciplinary action if they continued leading Bible studies; and now the school is under fire for broadening the ban to exclude other activities as well.
  • "Legislators request Lautenschlager’s opinion in Eau Claire controversy," Michael Gendall, The Badger-Herald (UW-Madison), November 17, 2005: Although initially sympathetic with UW-Eau Claire earlier this month, UW-Madison political science professor Donald Downs said he now feels the contested policy — engineered in part to protect the establishment clause of the First Amendment — violates freedom of expression and is therefore unconstitutional.
  • "State Attorney General will review RA policy," Brian Reisinger, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), November 17, 2005: The debate over UW-Eau Claire's policy prohibiting resident assistants from conducting religious, political or sales-related activities in their residencies reached the state attorney general this week.
  • "Speech codes on campus," The Badger-Herald (UW-Madison), November 16, 2005: We feel that the decision to ban religious and political activities limits the free expression and association rights of resident assistants. RAs are, first and foremost, students of the university and as such should enjoy all the benefits of being a student.
  • "Opinion sought on Bible study," Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.), November 15, 2005: “It’s a good sign that the university is taking a second look at their policy,” Steiger said. “It shows me that they want to do the right thing. What I hope comes from it is they will see having a Bible study is free speech.”
  • "UW religious debate reaches Wis. lawmakers," Sam Omar-Hall, The Daily Cardinal (UW-Madison), November 15, 2005: In a situation that may strain the relationship between church and state in Wisconsin, UW System officials appealed to the state attorney general Monday for her input on a UW policy that forbids resident assistants from holding religious functions in dormitories.
  • "Green calls for hearing," Michael Gendall, The Badger-Herald (UW-Madison), November 15, 2005: The First Amendment debate surrounding the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire continued Monday, as the UW System continues to try to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the establishment clause.
  • "Political Grapevine: Bible Study Ban," Brit Hume, Fox News, November 14, 2005: Republican candidate for Governor Mark Green is demanding that the University of Wisconsin rescind what he calls its "unconstitutional" policy banning student resident assistants from leading bible studies in their own dorm rooms.
  • "Bible study ban prompts question," Megan Twohey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 14, 2005: University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly on Monday asked the state attorney general to determine whether it's unconstitutional for Wisconsin universities to prohibit resident assistants from conducting Bible studies in their dormitories.
  • "UW should dump RA Bible study ban," Don Huebscher, Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.), November 13, 2005: The UW System keeps getting beat up over its policies regarding relatively obscure issues that anger many taxpayers and divert attention from its core mission of preparing the next generation of professional men and women to help lead our society.
  • "Bible study is speech," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 13, 2005: As long as Steiger isn't using his position of authority to foist his religious views on others or trying to compel attendance at the sessions, the university shouldn't be interfering in Steiger's expression of his private religious beliefs with his friends on his own time. And the same would apply if Steiger were a Muslim or a Jew or a Wiccan - or a Republican or Democrat, for that matter.
  • "How long before they ban private Bible reading?," Mark Tapscott, Townhall.com, November 11, 2005: These three cases are typical of hundreds across the country in recent years in which the rights of individuals to practice the faith of their choice has been attacked by people in positions of power, often at taxpayers expense.
  • "RAs, students share mixed feelings," D. J. Slater, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), November 10, 2005: Since the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education sent a letter to the university on Oct. 10 questioning this policy, the topic has garnered mixed opinions on campus.
  • "University should let RAs show their faith," Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, November 10, 2005: One wonders if UW-Eau Claire officials similarly would instruct RAs never to express their political views - even in private conversations in their own rooms. That would be shameful, too, in a society that if anything needs more people to show an interest in politics.
  • "Quick Takes," Inside Higher Ed, November 10, 2005: The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire has announced that it is reviewing policies that have limited resident assistants from organizing certain religious activities in their rooms. The university’s policies for its RA’s have been receiving considerable attention since the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education criticized the rules. FIRE and others have said that students’ religious rights are being violated
  • "FIRE Demands University of Wisconsin Lift Ban on RA-Led Bible Studies," Jim Brown, Agape Press, November 8, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has threatened its resident assistants, or "RAs," with disciplinary action if they hold a Bible study on their own time in their dorm rooms. A UW-Eau Claire administrator has told certain RAs the mere fact that they lead a Bible study may make some students feel they are being judged or that the RA is less "approachable."
  • "Trumping Moses and Matthew," Suzanne Fields, Syndicated Column, November 7, 2005: Such flouting of the traditions of free speech -- and good sense -- is typical of the disease of political correctness that in various forms infects many campuses, denying students a fundamental understanding of the meaning of free speech.
  • "RA Bible study ban draws FIRE's ire," D. J. Slater, The Spectator (UW–Eau Claire), November 7, 2005: It never struck senior Lance Steiger as an activity that could lead to disciplinary action; it was just something he was accustomed to doing on a regular basis.
  • "Reps. blast UW-Eau Claire," Benjamin Jones, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), November 7, 2005: Two Wisconsin legislators expressed outrage last week over University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s policy of prohibiting residential assistants from leading bible study groups in their dorm rooms.
  • "Banned Bible Study, Stifled Santa," Scott Norvell, Fox News, November 7, 2005: A resident assistant in a dormitory at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire has been told that he cannot hold informal Bible study sessions in the dorm because it would amount to an illegal endorsement of religion by a state employee, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  • "Bible study policy raises ire," Raquel Rutledge, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 4, 2005: The issue has spawned a flurry of heated exchanges between Steiger, school officials, civil liberties groups, and at least one U.S. representative who on Thursday called the university's position "outrageous and un-American."
  • "UWEC Under Fire From FIRE," Anna Wagnild, WEAU-TV (NBC Affiliate), November 4, 2005: A national non-profit education association is criticizing a UW-Eau Claire policy prohibiting resident assistants to hold bible studies in the dorms. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education says the directive is "a shameful attack on freedom of religion."
  • "States: Wisconsin," USA Today, November 4, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is reviewing a directive that banned resident assistants from holding Bible study in their dorms. Last July, a university official sent a letter saying if resident assistants did that, students might not find them approachable. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education protested.
  • "UW-Eau Claire is reviewing legalities of Bible study ban," Carrie Antlfinger, Associated Press, November 3, 2005: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is reviewing the legalities of its policy banning resident assistants from leading Bible studies in their dorms, a spokesman said Thursday.
  • "University denies religious freedom," Charles Parsons, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), November 3, 2005: Despite the questionable nature of Ms. Newman’s underlying logic — that religious students are judgmental and unable to make a distinction between their RA duties and their personal activities, and that differing religious views makes residents uncomfortable — the decision to ban RAs from holding bible studies in their rooms clearly goes against the school’s own belief that RAs are students first and as such enjoy all the benefits of being students, including freedom of religion and expression.
  • "Eau Claire policy comes under FIRE," Michael Gendall, The Badger Herald (UW-Madison), November 3, 2005: The Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) made public its gripe with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Wednesday, claiming the UW school has “shamefully” attacked the religious freedom of its employees by prohibiting resident assistants from leading bible studies in their rooms.