UNC Attempts to Violate Liberties Again

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 1, 2003
NEWS CONTACT: Joe Glover – 434-846-0500

CHAPEL HILL, NC ““- The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has once again attempted to infringe upon the religious free exercise of its students. With a First Amendment lawsuit over the Islamic indoctrination for first year students still awaiting a final decision in Federal Court, UNC officials worked to deny Christian students their right to pick leaders who believe in the Bible.

In letters to Christian clubs on campus early in December, a UNC official told students they could no longer require their leaders to be Christians. In a letter to a student leader of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Assistant Director for Student Activities and Organizations Jonathan Curtis wrote:

“Your Constitution … requires an officer to ‘subscribe in writing and without reservation’ to the beliefs of the Christian faith as enumerated in Article II. Thus, your group does not allow full participation ‘without regard to … religion …’ as mandated by our Application for Official University Recognition.”

FPN officials were preparing a letter of warning to University Chancellor James Moeser in late December, just before he released a statement to media indicating at least one campus club would retain its official recognition by the University without changing the religious requirements of its leadership. FPN President Joe Glover planned to warn Moeser that a direct assault on the religious liberties of Christian students on campus could prompt another round of controversy regarding the religious liberties of students at UNC.

After hearing that the Chancellor seemed to be backing the University away from revoking official recognition of one of UNC’s religious clubs, Glover said, “We know statements from James Moeser’s staff mean nothing. They told a federal court their summer reading assignment on the Qur’an was voluntary, just before they reminded freshman they were required to participate.” He added, “You have to watch what they say – not what they do.”

For several months, FPN representatives have criticized UNC’s requirement for incoming freshmen and transfer students to read an Islamicist’s commentary on parts of the Koran and attend a discussion about the book in August of 2002. In what now appears to have been a move to insulate the University from legal harm, the school promised a Federal Judge in Greensboro they would not require students to participate. On that basis, the Court denied a motion filed by American Family Association Center for Law & Policy attorneys to stop the Summer Reading Program’s discussion group meetings. As soon as the Court made its decision, staff members at UNC began reminding students that the program was mandatory once again. (See related news release)

FPN brought national attention to the UNC/Islam controversy when leaders of the group appeared on thousands of network radio and television stations, and in newspapers throughout the world. The group utilized media appearances to seek out several potential plaintiffs to sue the University. FPN President Joe Glover then interviewed the students and introduced three of them to attorneys with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, a legal non-profit organization, who represented them in federal court.

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