The Badger Herald: News: Catholic group files 2nd lawsuit

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Catholic group files 2nd lawsuit

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Also by Joanna Pliner:

Dean search advances to fall (April 7, 2006)
Students blast UW coal plant (November 16, 2006)
Barrett takes on state lawmakers (August 8, 2006)
Former dean passes at age 82 (December 6, 2006)
UW to host 9/11 panel at Memorial Union (September 11, 2006)

by Joanna Pliner

Thursday, November 16, 2006 00:00

The University of Wisconsin Roman Catholic Foundation has been in and out of lawsuits with the university for the past four years, and, at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, they filed another one.

The complaint not only calls for a reversal of Monday's Student Services Finance Committee decision, but also seeks to remove four members from SSFC.

The five members named in the complaint are Chair Zach Frey, Vice Chair Kellie Sanders, Secretary Jackie Goessl, and representatives Sree Atluru and Christine Harbin. Frey is the only respondent UWRCF does not want removed from the committee.

The committee voted against UWRCF's request for "contract group status," which SSFC member Sree Atluru said would permit the foundation to employ full-time professional staff that would better serve the student members.

In the complaint — sent to Chief Justice Josh Tyack by UWRCF spokesperson Tim Kruse—the religious foundation accuses the five SSFC representatives of violating the viewpoint neutrality clause of the Associated Students of Madison bylaws when they voted against UWRCF's "contract status."

Kruse did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday night.

Atluru said all SSFC representatives hold every student organization that comes before the committee to a consistent standard.

"I treat them as an individual entity. I treat them looking at how they serve all students and how they serve all campus," she said. "If they think that I previously injured their organization, then they have the right to seek recourse, and I have the right to defend myself."

UWRCF has accused SSFC and the UW administration of religious discrimination in the recent past and filed a federal lawsuit on similar grounds with the UW System and four members of the UW administration one week ago. Wednesday's lawsuit was filed with the Associated Students of Madison's Student Judiciary.

Tyack said it is fair to say UWRCF is alleging the same kind of viewpoint-neutrality violation in this case.

SSFC is scheduled to decide on UWRCF's budget tonight. However, the organization may be granted preliminary relief today, which Tyack said would keep SSFC from making any such decision until the Student Judiciary issues a ruling on the case.

"I think both parties would be best served by getting an answer on this as soon as possible," he added.

Feedback

Anonymous (November 16, 2006 @ 7:46am):

Way to imitate Jesus, UWRCF! For didn't Jesus say "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' I tell you, resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, sue the bastard."

If they want to discriminate against non-Catholic students, they don't qualify for seg fees. That's the law, and it applies to everyone, even them.

Anonymous (November 16, 2006 @ 1:37pm):

Poster #1 displays part of the problem. The University rule requires that the student groups are open to all students. There is no "law" against discriminating against people that don't agree with your mission. Also, that isn't really what the UWRCF case is about. The very long complaint they filed can be found online; take a look at it.

It is absurd to think that for any group, they must put people on their board that oppose their mission.

It is also clear that the Chancellor has no idea what the Establishment Clause means. Please discuss the matter with faculty or experts on the First Amendment.

The whole idea behind the UW funding process is that it is "viewpoint neutral." That means the school is not exercising speech when it funds various groups. Discriminating against religious groups because of their mission is contrary to the purpose of the forum the school created.

The UW will lose this suit because of Wiley's comments.

(I say this as an atheist)

Anonymous (November 16, 2006 @ 5:36pm):

To Poster #2:
"The University rule requires that the student groups are open to all students."

UWRCF is not a student organization. Hence the lawsuit against the University. So no, they are not open to all students. That's the point.

Anonymous (November 16, 2006 @ 8:34pm):

In response to Poster #3: UWRCF is, in fact, a student organization and one that is open to any student. This lawsuit is not about the question of UWRCF's eligibility as a student org (that was debated earlier and the decision decided that UWRCF is eligible).

This lawsuit is about discrimination on the part of the university toward the largest and one of the oldest student organizations on this campus, which serves a vast segment of its population.