Newly proposed law is the second major religious liberty bill to pass the NCGA within recent days
By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
June 19, 2014
Thanks to Senate Bill 719 – Student Organizations/Rights and Recognition, passed by the House on Wednesday and awaiting the Governor’s signature, student organizations at North Carolina colleges and universities will be able to determine their own core missions, choose leaders and settle internal disputes without fear that administrators who oppose their causes will shut them down.
“We need to make it clear that just because a student decides to attend one of our public universities or colleges it does not mean that the student forfeits his First Amendment rights to the administration of the university or college,” said Rep. Bert Jones (R-Caswell), who sponsored a companion bill in the House.
“… This bill recognizes that there is an important difference between education and indoctrination or coercion.”
Jones said society is engaged in an ongoing cultural battle, and although he wished the legislation were not necessary, it is.
“There is a war against God in the public square and against Christian expression in particular, and those efforts have extended to our campuses,” he said. “Religious student organizations have been threatened with non-recognition, denied access to university facilities or otherwise harassed. There have been efforts to muzzle their speech, efforts to mandate whom they must accept as leaders or members and efforts to abridge their freedom of association.”
Supporters of the bill defeated an amendment floated by Rep. Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland) that they said would have gutted the measure and one from Rep. Larry Hall (D-Durham) which they deemed unnecessary. Glazier wanted to add language that he said would clarify that an organization’s membership policy could discriminate based on beliefs but not status. Hall sought to make available an appeals procedure for anyone ousted from a club based on accusations of failing to be faithful to its cause.
Rep. Alma Adams (D-Guilford) was perhaps the bill’s most vocal opponent, insisting that the university system’s Board of Governors should deal with matters involving student organizations and that the Legislature was “treading dangerous water” by forcing college administrations to financially support organizations that might have what she called “discriminatory practices.”
“If a student can get membership into an organization but cannot serve as a leader in that organization, that is discriminatory on its face,” Adams said.
But Jones said cries of discrimination are sometimes indicators of “political correctness gone amuck” and that student organizations must be allowed to protect their core values and identity by setting parameters for membership and ensuring that only those who support the club’s goals take leadership roles.
“I don’t think the Girl Scouts are a discriminatory group because they don’t allow boys to join,” he said by way of example.
The Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, agreed with Jones’ assessment of the need for the new law.
“It seems like it would be common sense. An organization shouldn’t be compelled to accept leadership that is opposed to its core mission — for instance, a proclaimed atheist directing membership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And yet, some universities’ non-discrimination policies would force the FCA to surrender its status as a campus organization if it wasn’t unwilling to do so,” Dr. Creech said. “Very simply, it’s this kind of situation that the new law addresses. We urge the governor to sign it.”
See Related Story:Student Prayer Bill Passes NCGA and Goes to the Governor