InterVarsity Again Defending Religious Freedom at Wayne State
For Immediate Release: June 6, 2018
Media Contact: Melinda Skea | media@becketlaw.org | 202-349-7224
(Madison, WI) – For the second time in three months InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is fighting for its right to continue serving at the same campus it has been on for over 75 years.
In InterVarsity Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University, the Wayne State InterVarsity chapter is asking the court to protect its right to continue being a part of the Wayne State campus community. Michigan-based Wayne State claims InterVarsity is breaking the rules by asking its leaders to share its faith, even though it lets more than 90 other student groups choose their own leaders. Now the University is asking a federal court to give it the power to kick the group off campus any time.
“Wayne State allows 90 student groups to make their own rules for leaders—everyone from fraternities to the Quidditch Club,” said Lori Windham, Senior Counsel at Becket, which represents the student group. “But Wayne State can’t wave a magic wand and make the Constitution disappear. Christian student groups have the same rights as everyone else.”
InterVarsity welcomes all students to join as members and only requires that its leaders agree with its faith. But in late 2017, Wayne State kicked the group off campus, canceled the group’s reserved meetings, and forced it to pay thousands of dollars to continue holding Bible studies on campus—all because it disagreed with InterVarsity’s leadership requirement. After InterVarsity filed a lawsuit, represented by Becket, the University let the group back on campus. But the University is still trying to force InterVarsity off campus.
The University’s actions ignore the rich history of InterVarsity’s student group at Wayne State, which is one of the oldest chapters in the country. InterVarsity has held weekly Bible studies and organized service opportunities on campus for over 75 years, including repairing buildings in downtown Detroit and serving at the local food pantry. The student group is asking the court to permanently protect its ability to be a part of, and continue serving, the Wayne State community.
“Wayne State’s actions threaten not just InterVarsity but all the religious groups who depend on student leaders who share their faith,” said Windham.
Becket filed two briefs seeking a permanent fix to the school’s discriminatory policy, which also highlights a list of more than 90 groups who are allowed to choose leaders who agree with them, while InterVarsity is not.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Melinda Skea at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7224.
Additional Information:
- Becket’s memo in response to Wayne State’s motion to dismiss (June 4, 2018)
- Becket’s Filing 2reply in support of InterVarsity’s motion for summary judgment (June 5, 2018)
- Release: 48 hours later, Wayne State allows Christian student group back on campus temporarily
- ABC News: Should campus religious groups be allowed to require leaders to follow their faith?
- Detroit News Editorial: WSU errs in ousting Christian group
- Becket’s Complaint in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University
- Case Page for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship v. Wayne State University
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Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions and has a 100% win-rate before the United States Supreme Court. For over 20 years, it has successfully defended clients of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians (read more here).