NEWS PROVIDED BY
Ratio Christi
Oct. 27, 2021
LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 27, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- ADF represents Ratio Christi in lawsuit against university for discrimination based on its views.
The university denied Ratio Christi's request of $1,500 in student activity funding to bring in a respected philosopher who taught at UNL for several decades because, according to the university, it could not promote "speakers of a political and ideological nature." The university told Ratio Christi that, to receive any funding, the student organization would have to "provide another spokesperson with a different ideological perspective" to counterbalance Dr. Robert Audi's Christian views. However, the university spends thousands of dollars each year hosting and funding events that are political and ideological in nature without imposing the same requirement.
"Public universities should be eager to support an inclusive environment that showcases a variety of viewpoints, not dismiss those with whom the administration disagrees," said ADF Legal Counsel Michael Ross. "The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has failed to ensure its student organizations are treated fairly and objectively; it turned down Ratio Christi's reasonable request because of a blatant bias against its particular religious and ideological viewpoint."
Dr. Corey Miller is President/CEO of Ratio Christi (RC), a Christian student ministry with chapters at many colleges and universities. RC exists to teach students how to explain and defend the Christian faith through history, science, and philosophy. Although the chapters allow access to all students, numerous schools have attempted to deny their chapter members the right to choose leaders in accordance with RC's Christian beliefs. Thus, protecting free speech and religious freedom on campus is vital to Ratio Christi. Dr. Miller says,
"Publicly funded universities should not privilege some campus student organizations over others with student event funding which come from common student fees. For a university to claim that 'diversity and inclusion are central to our mission' and then intentionally fail to be inclusive of such diverse viewpoints as Christian voices is quite alarming. Charitably, that is hypocritical; cynically, it smacks of an agenda which requires it receive continuing education on discrimination. This is especially egregious when the university denies funding to a group whose speaker is a vetted world-renowned philosopher and former tenured professor at the same university. Viewpoint diversity should be embraced not cancelled in the pursuit of truth."
ADF attorneys filed Ratio Christi v. University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. Richard Wall, Jr. of The Estate Planning Law Firm of Richard J. Wall, Jr., P.C., L.L.O in Lincoln, one of nearly 3,500 attorneys allied with ADF, is serving as local counsel. Media representatives interested in the case may contact ADF Media Relations at (480) 444-0020 or media@adflegal.org. If interested in interviewing Dr. Corey Miller about Ratio Christi's ministry, reach him at 704-989-2752 or email info@ratiochristi.org.
SOURCE Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance
CONTACT: Dr. Corey Miller, 704-989-2752, info@ratiochristi.org
Related Links
https://ratiochristi.org
Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance Files Suit Over Discrimination at University of Nebraska-Lincoln