October 19, 2011
Religious Group to Vanderbilt: Don't Discriminate Against Religious Student Groups That Discriminate Against Gays
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus are urging Vanderbilt University not to force its nondiscrimination policy on religious student groups.
About a year ago, a gay student accused a Christian fraternity of dismissing him because of his sexual orientation. Later, Vanderbilt reviewed its 380 student groups.
Four religious groups were found to not be in compliance with the policy. They have been placed on provisional status while the university continues to explore the issue.
In a letter dated Oct. 6, 23 prayer caucus members wrote to Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos asking him not to interpret the policy "in a manner that discriminates against religious groups," according to The Tennessean (http://bit.ly/qCZVeJ).
Vanderbilt issued a statement saying groups chose to affiliate with the university and sign a statement that they will not discriminate.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
