Supreme Court ruling may influence Central Michigan University’s registered student organization policies

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Student organizations at universities and state colleges could see some changes to policies regarding sexuality.

The United States Supreme Court heard a case April 19 on whether student organizations at universities and state colleges can deny students membership based on their sexuality.

The case could affect universities and state colleges across the country. A decision by the Supreme Court is expected in the summer.

“It has been going on for years,” said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life. “It’s a controversial subject.”

Voisin said the controversy began in the fall of 2003 when the Christian Legal Society chapter of the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law changed its policy excluding homosexuals and those who advocate or participate in pre-marital sex from membership.

This change violated the college’s all-comers policy, where any student group is entitled to official school recognition, as long as the group accepts everyone. Since its change in policy, the chapter was not awknowledged on campus.

“We will have to revisit the policy,” Voisin said. “It’s up to the Supreme Court to decide on what’s important.”

Holt senior Matthew Darling thinks it is preposterous for registered student organizations to base membership on sexuality.

“It’s a great violation of human rights, especially to students,” Darling said. “If an organization chooses to deny someone based on sexuality, it will be controversial on campus.”

Student organizations at Central Michigan University may not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or weight, Voisin said.

However, there are a few exceptions. An RSO may limit membership based on beliefs.

“People have the right to associate with who they want to associate with,” Voisin said.

He said changes were made to the RSO manual a few years ago allowing organizations to select members based on belief.

According to the RSO manual, “The University believes that students have the right to define the purpose of a group they wish to form. They have a right to operate that RSO consistent with these purposes.”

Coleman sophomore and Vice Chair of College Republicans John Porter said basing membership on sexuality is wrong.

“We don’t discriminate anyone for (their sexuality) because the Republican platform has nothing to with that,” Porter said. “There’s going to be people who agree with it and people who disagree with it.”

Porter said College Republicans has not based membership by political ideals. Either the organization has two Democratic members and a few moderate students.

“It has not been an issue,” he said.