University To Student: No More Bible Studies

[The Straight Story]

University To Student: No More Bible Studies

POSTED: 8:53 pm EST December 13, 2005
UPDATED: 9:06 pm EST December 13, 2005

MADISON, Wis. -- A resident assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire said he was stunned when a school official ordered him to stop hosting Bible studies in his dorm this year.

Lance Steiger told state lawmakers at a hearing in Madison that he wasn't informed until this year that RAs couldn't host religious events, although he'd been a dorm worker for two years.

Steiger has filed a lawsuit charging that his free speech and religious rights were violated.

http://www.local6.com/education/5529897/detail.htm

Seems like overkill to me...

[saltpoint]

1. With a faculty sponsor, most colleges and universities --

-- permit group gatherings for one thing or another in a campus meeting room someplace.

Is that policy not available at UW/Madison?

[SkiGuy]

2. I hope he wins the lawsuit

This is wrong.

[benburch]

3. An RA is an officer of the school.

And the dorm is his workplace.

And the school cannot sponsor religious events as they are a public institution.

[Dob Bole]

12. Not exactly. It's a public institution...

meaning that any group can use the campus for events, especially students who pay to rent space in the dorms. I myself am a teacher, and while it is unethical and unconstitutional to coerce students into a certain belief system, these are adults gathered in a peaceable assembly, under their own free will, in their homes, as it were.

I see from an earlier post that the policy has already changed... prohibiting the free exercise of religion would not have stood up in a court of law.

[expatriot]

18. So will my wife be able to sue the state for not allowing her to be a PC?

My wife, being a park ranger and uniformed state employee, cannot be a precinct committeeperson for any political party. Is this not a restriction of her right to freely exercise her political rights? Sure, but she voluntarily entered into the contract and there is good reason why she is under those restrictions - to help prevent undue influience.

Sure, he is restricted from leading a bible study on the dorm floor where is the resident administrator. Could any of the other students hold a bible study on that floor? Sure. Could the R.A. attend any bible study he wanted to? Sure.

Americans go nuclear when there is even a hint at the restriction of their religious freedoms but when there is a restriction of our political freedoms, where's the outrage?

[rinsd]

14. That's really stretching the separation of Church and State....

...he wasn't holding these studies in his room but in the basement.

Apparently the university rethought their position as a bit overkill.

[triguy46]

21. That's a stretch. It is also his domicile. n/t

[Cleita]

23. I questioned the Newman Club being on campus in

my local college. But, evidently they can be present there. I suppose it should be all right as long as students can chose to attend or not.

There are those who run Bible study groups who try to make it mandatory for everyone in the school or workplace to attend and this I think is wrong.

If they really study the Bible, maybe it isn't a bad thing. It should open the eyes of those who believe every word in it.

[expatriot]

7. He is the R.A. He holds a position of authority over his residents.

If it was just another student, of course it would be okay. The point is he is their R.A.
and can exert undue influence.

[triguy46]

22. Oh please...

Most students don't give a rats ass what the RA does or thinks. If he wasn't coercing or conditioning attendance, its a non issue. FYI, I'm currently employed in student affairs at a state institution with 20,000 students. The RA is allowed to have a life.

[Rowdyboy]

4. The UW system statewide has backtracked and recinded the policy

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/2072896.html

Madison: The University of Wisconsin System has suspended a policy that prevents certain students from holding bible studies in their dorm rooms.

UW Eau Claire senior Lance Steiger didn't want to start a fight, he just wanted to hold a bible study every Tuesday night with some other students in the basement of his dorm. "It was people we had either met on campus or people that had listed on a survey that they were interested in bible study so we contacted them."

The problem, according to the University of Eau Claire, is that Steiger is a resident assistant–meaning he lives in the dorm to help other students with all aspects of life. He gets free room and board, and as an employee the University didn't want him holding bible study for fear other students would feel pressured or put off.

[Gildor Inglorion]

10. Hey, Rowdyboy...ten steps ahead of the game, as usual!

:hi:

[Rowdyboy]

13. Hey, Gildor!

:hi: Life is to short to be angry over issues that have already been resolved!

[Dob Bole]

5. Not legal. U of Wisconsin is going to lose lots of money over this. nt

[Gildor Inglorion]

6. Of course it's overkill...silly university officials

People in dorms should be free to study the Bible, watch porn, or engage in any other free-speech activity. As long as the state-sponsored university doesn't sponsor or require the Bible study, there's nothing wrong with it. I wonder if someone isn't trying to create an issue here...maybe my mind is just too devious!
}(

[The Straight Story]

9. porn studies, now why didn't I do that in school :)

I missed all the fun stuff! Although beer study would be good as well...

[pocket]

8. I guess the snakes presented a hazard

doh

[The Straight Story]

11. bwahahahaha :) (nt)

[expatriot]

15. Holding a position of authority comes with restrictions on activities.

My wife, being a uniformed state employee (park ranger), for example, connot be a precinct committeeperson.

[Raster]

16. I just wonder, if Mr. Steiger was a Muslim and was holding Koran study

"classes" in his room if the response would be the same?

[expatriot]

19. or Wicca.

I am not a wiccan but I can just imagine if he was giving "instruction" on either wicca or the Koran... first of all, the language used in the article would be different. instead of "holding a bible study" it would be "promoting wiccan beliefs."

[Raster]

20. my point exactly. It seems to be OK to spread the good word as long

as the good word comes in bibical format...

[China_cat]

17. How long before we find out he

was requiring residents of the dorm to attend these studies on pain of losing their housing?

[progressivebydesign]

24. Headline is misleading... he's essentially an employee.

That's why this was an issue in the first place. He gains financially from being an RA, whether it's in cash or a room. I can see why this came up, but having him also living there is why it got complicated. A teacher is banned from holding bible studies or any other type of religious group in their room at a school, but student run groups are not. BEcause that person is BOTH an employee AND a student there, that's why it happened.