Rollins College boots student religious group off campus

[Baitball Blogger]

Rollins College has kicked a religious student group off campus for requiring its student leaders to be Christian and promote certain conservative beliefs — a violation of the private school's anti-discrimination policy.

Organizers with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship learned last fall that Rollins planned to "de-recognize" it, or strip away its funding and rights to recruit on campus, reserve meeting space and claim any affiliation with the small liberal-arts college in Winter Park.

The group, which has encountered similar issues at other colleges in recent years, requested an exemption that the board of trustees denied late last month.

InterVarsity argues that religious groups should be able to use religious criteria to choose their officers, who are considered spiritual leaders

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-rollins-college-boots-religious-group-20130307,0,22820.story

[Berlum]

1. Kristo-Fascist Youth Group (R) gets Karmick Kick in Keester

for their un-Christian & unAmerican evil-based hate & fear ACTivities. Wait for it: right-wing whining & tantrums to commence in 1 - 2 - 3....

[el_bryanto]

2. Environmental group banned because it required it's leaders to be pro-environment

Labor group banned because it required it's leaders to be pro union.

Democratic group banned because it required it's leaders to be in favor if the Democratic Party.

Pro Kitten group banned because it required it's leaders to like cats.

In fairness, this is a privately owned university - if they have as their charter that they want to promote liberal ideals, than I can see why they would ban Conservatoid Christian Groups, in the same way that I can see why they don't permit people here to be in favor of Republicans. Certainly there are plenty of Conservative Christian colleges which do not encourage or permit liberal groups.

Bryant

[Baitball Blogger]

4. This school attracts children born to 1 percenters.

I think they should be commended for the action because they'll probably get grief over it.

But, yes, they are very big on raising awareness to social issues and, thus, strive for inclusivity. It sounds like the purpose of the religious organization was counter to that objective.

[el_bryanto]

6. If you strive for inclusivity why have student groups at all?

Don't student groups automatically divide the students?

And if you are going to allow student groups why is it wrong for them to require their leaders to support the issues the group is organized around? Would you ding an Humanist/Atheist group for refusing to allow religious types to lead their club?

Bryant

[Baitball Blogger]

8. I'm sure these organizations would have to be just as inclusive.

If a Liberal Arts program welcomes debate and discussion, you don't get that with like-minded members. Diversity is what broadens people's minds.

I imagine that every club has to justify itself by stating a purpose. At that time, whether they have the support of the small college, will depend on what they have to offer the other students.

[el_bryanto]

12. I am just saying that if I were a conservative or Christian on that campus

I'd be joining every liberal humanist group I could and insisting that they make me an officer.

Bryant

[Baitball Blogger]

15. As I stated earlier, it is a small campus.

I don't think they would have a very active social life on weekends, if they were the talk in Beans--which is the name of the school cafeteria.

Besides, don't officers need to be voted in? I think this Christian organization was making it a requirement that officers HAD to be Christians.

[kimbutgar]

7. Liberty University dropped the campus Democratic party group

[el_bryanto]

13. Yep - that's no better. I mean yes Rollins is a private campus

as is Liberty - they can do what they want. But I'm not keen on it.

Bryant

[Viking12]

3. Misleading headline. They weren't "booted off campus"

Their access to campus resources were withheld because of their discriminatory policies.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Which includes meeting places on campus, no?

[Viking12]

16. Did you even bother to read pst the headline of your link?

Duncan said that though InterVarsity is no longer a college-affiliated group at Rollins, it can still rent space at college events and buy advertising in school publications. Students are still allowed to meet on campus for Bible studies and other religious activities, although not under the auspices of the organization and without the oversight of officials from InterVarsity.

In other words, they can still shake their booty anyway they want but they can't call themselves a student organization.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Apparently, the eyes read, but the mind made the wrong assumptions.

I wonder if the other organizations are allowed to use the facilities rent free?

So, I concede you the point. The title is misleading.

[Viking12]

18. It happens.

Most universities allow recognized student organizations to use the facilities for free or at reduced cost. However, to maintain recognition by the university, the organizations have to meet certain criteria of which non-discrimination is one.

[Liberal_Dog]

9. "It's Time To Grab The Bull By The Balls And Kick Those Punks Off Campus"

[lpbk2713]

10. Fascism in the name of religion is fascism none the less.

They are intolerable bigots and they deserve to be given the boot.


Good on Rollins. I was there for a meeting for a couple of days some
time ago and I got a good feeling about the place.

[Union Scribe]

11. That sounds sketchy.

And so do a lot of the rationalizations I'm hearing, including citing Liberty University dismantling a Democratic club. Like that's okay?

The whole thing sounds punitive. This is a list of their student clubs: http://www.rollins.edu/osil/so/orgslist.html

According to their policy, it is wrong for the Jewish Student Union to choose Jewish officers, or for the Muslim Student Association to choose Muslim officers. So when do those get the boot?

[Skip Intro]

14. +100. nt

[timdog44]

19. From the story link.

College officials pointed out that this past year, the president of Rollins' Latin American Student Association was an Asian-American student and the Muslim Student Association president was not Muslim.