The Roman Catholic Foundation-UW-Madison will get another chance at securing university funding for the 2008-'10 academic years, according to an Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary decision Sunday.
Student Judiciary members voted RCF-UW presented enough new evidence in an appeal Sunday to move the case back to the full panel court as a new complaint.
The new evidence involved a January preliminary injunction, which prohibits the university from refusing to fund activities with prayer, worship or proselytizing.
According to the group's appeal, ASM's Student Services Finance Committee used the university policy U.S. District Court Judge John Shabaz ruled unconstitutional on Jan. 17 when it originally denied the group funding in September 2007.
The group wrote Shabaz's decision is new law in the case,"" and different facts would have ""altered the outcome"" of the eligibility hearing process.
ASM bylaws require all registered student organizations to prove the existence of a ""significant additional component"" unique from other student organizations to receive university funding.
RCF-UW said the unconstitutional policy used by SSFC prevented the organization from ""highlighting its unique Roman Catholic perspective as its 'significant additional component'"" during its eligibility presentation Sept. 17.
Sunday's decision adds to the long battle between UW-Madison and the Catholic student organization regarding university funding.
The group has filed two federal lawsuits against the university for religious discrimination and is expected to go to trial in June. University officials have denied all allegations of religious discrimination.
The Student Judiciary meeting was also the second RCF-UW appeal this academic year to an SSFC eligibility decision.
RCF-UW Chair Beth Czarnecki said at the meeting she did not want to delay the new hearing process because of the expected trial.
