NJ college revises policy after it banned funds to Christian Clubhttps://www.thecollegefix.com/nj-college-revises-policy-after-it-banned-funds-to-christian-club/Atlantic Cape Community College recently changed a student club policy that banned funding for religious and political groups after a legal organization called it a violation of students’ First Amendment rights.
The New Jersey public college’s Board of Trustees voted to revise the policy last week, removing the language that prohibited funding for “religious and political” student groups on campus, according to the college website.
The revised policy, adopted Feb. 25, states that all official student organizations may request funding for activities through the Student Government Association.
It also specifies how “religious or political organizations” may use the SGA funds, including for “[e]ducational programs, lectures, panels, or discussions,” guest speakers, and events that are “nonpartisan, educational in nature, and approved in advance pursuant to College and SGA procedures.”
Additionally, the policy outlines what student groups may not use funding for: “[r]eligious worship, devotional exercises, or religious services,” “[p]olitical campaign activities,” and any activities that “exclude participation based on a protected class.”
Previously, the policy stated: “Religious and political groups have the right to organize and be recognized by the SGA. They will have the right to use the name of Atlantic Cape and its facilities but will not receive funds to run their clubs.”
This change benefits any/every religious or political group. Cynical me doesn't believe the old policy was enforced against all religious or political groups consistently, though I have no evidence of this, so this change may have "just" leveled the playing field.
