The Christian canary in Harvard's coal mine

It’s been seven years since Vanderbilt University forced nearly all Christian student groups off campus by demanding they abandon faith-based leadership requirements. Despite fears the Vanderbilt decision would spur a rash of anti-religious policies at private universities, most chose not to follow the Nashville school’s lead.

But now the nation’s top Ivy League school has put its largest campus Christian group on probation, again raising worries about a widespread, faith-based purge.

Harvard administrators began investigating Harvard College Faith and Action (HCFA) last year after a Bible study leader reported the group pressured her to resign her leadership position over her decision to date another woman. Last month, the school announced it would place HCFA on probation for a year, giving the group time to prove its compliance with the school’s non-discrimination policies. According to the Harvard College Student Handbook, recognized campus student groups cannot discriminate on the basis of “sexual orientation.”

HCFA’s leaders and its parent ministry, Christian Union, insist the group already meets all the school’s requirements for maintaining its official recognized status. While administrators and the student union have framed the issue in terms of discrimination, HCFA notes the disagreement really falls to a difference in belief.

“We reject any notion that we discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in our fellowship,” HCFA co-presidents Scott Ely and Molly L. Richmond wrote in an email to The Harvard Crimson. “Broadly speaking, the student in this case was removed because of an irreconcilable theological disagreement pertaining to our character standards.”

In January, another campus Christian group won its fight against the University of Iowa over belief-based leadership requirements. The judge ruled the state school couldn’t prevent members of Business Leaders in Christ from selecting leaders who shared their faith, unless it applied the same standard to other groups, which it had not done. Applying the anti-bias policy unequally violated students’ religious liberty rights, the judge ruled.

But private universities like Harvard don’t have to respect constitutional protections, leaving Christian groups at the mercy of administrators who value inclusion and tolerance above all else. Kim Colby, director of the Christian Legal Society’s Center of Law and Religious Freedom, said that’s not necessarily a bad place to be. The conversations sparked as a result of Vanderbilt’s decision to force Christian groups off campus helped show where zealous enforcement of anti-bias policies would logically lead.

“At many campuses they finally understood why applying a policy that in their minds prevents discrimination actually amounts to religious discrimination,” Colby said.

The Christian students at Harvard now have a prime opportunity to make the case for pluralism on campus. Does Harvard want to be known as a place where only some ideas are tolerated? Colby called religious groups the canary in the campus intolerance coal mine.

“In the last couple of years we’ve seen situations where it’s clear the climate on campus is very bad for free speech and for organizations that dissent from the campus culture,” she said. “That can be political, social, or religious. I think in that sense, a lot of people who might have said religious groups are just unwilling to acquiesce to reasonable requests realize that these aren’t actually reasonable requests. They’re actually trying to rid the campus of any views the administration doesn’t like.”

Jacobe Taras Associated Press/Photo by Richard Taras

Putting the rights of some over the lives of others

Parents of a middle school student who committed suicide after enduring relentless bullying are facing opposition from a powerful and unlikely foe—LGBT lobby groups. Richard and Christine Taras are advocating for a New York law that would require school districts tell parents when their children are being bullied, information the grieving parents say could have helped them save their 13-year-old son, Jacobe.

“We had no idea of the extent or the seriousness of what was going on,” Richard Taras said. “My son didn't tell me and the school didn't pass along the information they had.”

But LGBT advocates say telling parents about bullying could unintentionally “out” students who don’t want their parents to know about their sexual orientation or gender identity. The push to protect some students leaves others vulnerable and confuses educators who want to help. The School Administrators Association of New York hasn’t taken a stance on the law out of concerns over the sexuality issue.

“It might seem like an area that should be clear cut, but it’s not for us,” said Cynthia Gallagher, an official with the association.

While advocacy groups quibble over which students are worth protecting, the Tarases just wish they’d known the extent of their son’s suffering. His suicide note offered their first and last glimpse into his torment: “Dear Mom and Dad, I’m sorry but I can not live anymore. I just can’t deal with all the bullies, being called gay … being told to go kill myself. I’m also done with being pushed, punched, tripped. I LOVE YOU.” —L.J.

Jacobe Taras Associated Press/Photo by Richard Taras

White nationalist draws protests, police in Michigan

Police issued more than 150 tickets to violent protesters Monday ahead of white nationalist Richard Spencer’s speech at Michigan State University. Protesters, some wearing masks, tried to prevent people from attending the event, pushing two ticket-holders to the ground and pelting another with sticks, dirt, and cans. Officers with the university’s police department made two dozen arrests, some for weapons violations. University administrators initially tried to block Spencer’s speech, scheduled shortly after a counterprotester died during violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., last year. But Spencer’s supporters sued, and administrators eventually relented, pledging their support for free speech: “Here, ideas—not people—are meant to clash and to be evaluated based on their merits.” Spencer vowed to continue his college campus tour, although appearances in several states remain in limbo. A new attorney for Spencer announced he would drop a lawsuit against Ohio State University while continuing to pursue litigation against the University of Cincinnati. —L.J.

Back to class

West Virginia students are heading back to class today after a nine-day break. Teachers in all 55 school districts walked off the job Feb. 22 to protest a 2 percent pay raise. The educators, among the lowest paid in the nation, called the increase insufficient, noting it wouldn’t even cover the rising cost of healthcare. Gov. Jim Justice negotiated a 5 percent raise, but lawmakers balked, questioning where the money would come from. The legislature eventually approved the increase unanimously on Tuesday, extending it to other state employees, including state troopers and school service personnel. —L.J.