Professor Says Vanderbilt Suppressing Christian Student Groups Amid Shutdown Threats

Is Vanderbilt University flirting with the suppression of religion? Yes, according to Carol Swain, a professor at Vanderbilt's Law School. Specifically, Swain is referring to four Christian student groups being placed on "provisional status" after a university review found them to be in non-compliance with the school's nondiscrimination policy. Vanderbilt says the student organizations cannot require that leaders share the group's beliefs, goals and values. Carried to its full extent, it means an atheist could lead a Christian group, a man a woman's group, a Jew a Muslim group or vice versa. If they remain in non-compliance, the student organizations risk being shut down. So what's behind this? Flashback to last fall. An openly gay undergrad at Vanderbilt complained he was kicked out of a Christian fraternity. The university wouldn't identify the fraternity, but campus newspaper the "Hustler" reported it was Beta Upsilon Chi. As a result, the school took a look at the constitutions of some 300 student groups and found about a dozen, including five religious groups to be in non-compliance with Vanderbilt's nondiscrimination policy. All were placed on provisional status. Among the groups threatened with shut down is the Christian Legal Society. It ran afoul with this language from its constitution. "Each officer is expected to lead Bible studies, prayer and worship at chapter meetings." CLS President Justin Gunter told me, "We come together to do things that Christians do together. Pray, and have Bible studies. "(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com …