Religious organizations at Vanderbilt University are no longer guaranteed freedom of religious association, following changes made to the school’s nondiscrimination policy late last year, the Vanderbilt Hustler has learned.
The university last year removed a clause from its nondiscrimination policy after allegations surfaced in Nov. 2010 that a Christian fraternity on campus asked an openly gay member to resign because of his sexual orientation.
The change, made on Dec. 8, 2010, removed a sentence that guaranteed freedom of religious association for external organizations that associate with the university. The change was made after the Hustler reported the allegations on Nov. 5, 2010.
The text read,”Vanderbilt University is committed to the principle of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or the perception of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. In affirming its commitment to this principle, the University does not limit freedom of religious association, does not require adherence to this principle by government agencies or external organizations that associate with, but are not controlled by, the University, and does not extend benefits beyond those provided under other policies of the University.”
University officials were contacted for comment Monday afternoon but have not yet responded.
The change can been seen in the student handbook by comparing the Dec. 8, 2010 version with the March 29, 2011 version.
The news of this change comes amid scrutiny and national media attention of the university for placing four religious groups on provisional status due to noncompliance with the nondiscimination policy.
Today, the university is repeatedly tweeting a statement released on Sept. 15 that reads, “We made the decision to give the organizations not yet in compliance provisional status, allowing us to continue to work with them to achieve compliance while allowing them to continue to have the same full access to the Vanderbilt campus as they have had in the past.”
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