In response to the Student Organization Office's heightened scrutiny of organizations seeking official recognition, several Christian groups recently joined together to form United Response, an alliance opposed to current guidelines concerning the leadership of religious student organizations.
United Response is composed of Student Impact (Campus Crusade for Christ), InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, The Navigators and New College Madison, an off-campus organization promoting dialogue on contemporary issues involving Christianity.
The group's main concern is that the SOO is considering more stringently enforcing a rule that states leadership positions of religious organizations must be open to everyone, regardless of the applicant's faith.
""Right now, selective membership or selective leadership which is not open to all students, period, would be considered violative of the non-discrimination provisions of chapter 36 and university policy,"" Chancellor's Assistant Casey Nagy said. ""There is a system task force reviewing that issue, and we expect to hear findings and recommendations from that task force in the relatively near future, which may change the current posture.""
According to New College of Madison Director and United Response Spokesperson Vern Visick, United Response has already written a letter to the SOO expressing concern over the policy's possible implementation. Visick said the debate is a ""constitutional issue"" developing between some religious organizations and the SOO.
""Most of the groups on campus do programming that's open to everyone, regardless of religious commitment,"" Visick said. ""But they want to reserve the right to be sure their leadership represents what they stand for.""
United Response met yesterday to discuss its plans, but attendees refused to disclose details of what was decided.
""From what I understand, the goal is to dialogue with the university on the issue of religious freedom and religious groups on campus,"" said Gordon Govier, national press relations director for IVCF.
Visick was not ready to say what United Response would do if the SOO acted on the policy and withdrew funding from religious organizations not in compliance.
Nagy stressed that the university is working with all concerned groups to alleviate points of tension, which mainly include leadership and programming content issues.
As for United Response, Nagy said he welcomes another voice in the debate.
""It isn't going to change the manner in which we feel we need to apply the law to different program activities,"" Nagy said. ""If the law changes, so too does the discussion, but I certainly welcome any additional voice if it's responsible and reasonable to trying to find a way to handle these very complicated issues.""
