Politically-oriented registered student organizations will be able to prohibit membership to individuals who do not agree with their beliefs in the fall.

Central Michigan University officials have agreed to alleviate political organizations from complying with the nondiscrimination clause in the registered student organization manual.

The current manual allows only religious-oriented RSOs exemption from the nondiscrimination clause.

"It's extending the faith-based initiative to a belief-based initiative," said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life.

The policy change will be implemented before the beginning of the fall semester, according to a statement released by University President Michael Rao and Interim Provost Gary Shapiro to members of the Faculty Listserv on Wednesday.

With exemption from the nondiscrimination clause, belief-based registered student organizations, including most religious and political groups, will be allowed to use their belief system to determine whether individuals will receive membership.

The nondiscrimination clause will continue to apply for RSOs that are not belief-based, such as Program Board.

"Most of our groups are social and recreational," Voisin said.

The policy change will not affect every politically-oriented RSO, Voisin said, but because most of them are belief-based, including the College Republicans and the College Democrats, it will have an effect.

Complaints spark change

Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) after he said some individuals attempted to overthrow his RSO, Young Americans for Freedom.

"Every student group has a right to associate themselves with like-minded individuals," Lennox said.

FIRE sent an inquiry to CMU officials on March 16 regarding the nondiscrimination clause.

"FIRE was prompted to write its letter to CMU because members of YAF informed us that certain students had started attending and disrupting YAF meetings," said Tara Sweeney, FIRE senior program officer, in an e-mail to Central Michigan Life.

Sweeney said the inquiry also was prompted because some students started a Facebook.com group called "People Who Believe that Young Americans For Freedom is a Hate Group."

According to the statement released on the Listserv, "FIRE contends that the manual, as written, bars expressive organizations from prohibiting membership in the organization to individuals who disagree with the mission or purpose of the group."

Sweeney said diversity and equality are goals CMU should be trying to achieve.

"However, ideologically-based organizations, such as Students Against Discrimination, the Gay/Straight Alliance, College Democrats, College Republicans and Young Americans for Freedom should be able to only admit members that agree with the ideological mission of the group," she said.

After reviewing the non-discrimination clause, CMU officials decided to exempt belief-based RSOs from complying with it because the university was facing the principle of freedom of association, which the courts have generally protected.

"We believe that CMU, as a public entity, needs to follow the rules of the Supreme Court," Lennox said.

Belief-based RSOs must state the beliefs by which membership will be limited in their constitutions, Voisin said.

University officials are still working out the exact language that will be stated in the RSO manual, Voisin said, but it will be set by August.

apiazza@cm-life.com