Senate Passes Bill Allowing public College Groups to Restrict Membership
The Virginia Senate has recently passed a law that allows religious or political memberships at public colleges to allow membership to those who agree with the cause. For example, if there were a Christian-based membership group, people could be denied membership if they are not Christian. Opponents say that this is basic discrimination. (Though, if you weren't a Christian, why would you want to be a part of the group anyway? Maybe I'm just missing the point...) Senator Creigh Deeds said that the passing of this bill contradicts a "U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a California law school’s refusal to recognize a religious organization that excluded gay students." On the contrary, Senator Mark Obenshein says that this is a "freedom of association bill." I thought this article was interesting because it again relates to what we've been talking about in class about how the House and Senate vote on bills to hopefully make them laws.
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I can see why it is unfair to restrict membership to a group if you agree with the cause, especially if it is taken to far. I have to say, though, this whole law seems a bit contrived to me.
ReplyDeleteI think such groups, even though they're part of a public school, should be able to set reasonable membership standards. While some qualifications- like race and gender- are inherently unfair,voluntary qualifications like which religion you belong to or being gay are not unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand why you might say religion could be a disqualifier should the organization be religious, sexual orientation should not prevent anyone from joining an organization.
DeleteEven if the organization is strictly against homosexuality? (Or anything that isn't heterosexuality)? That's wrong and is forcing people of a common belief to allow the people they disapprove of to join by force.
DeleteI guess I just struggle with the idea of an organization being against homosexuality, that's all.
DeleteBut then again, why would someone who is not heterosexual want to join an anti-homosexuality group in the first place? That may not be the point of the matter, but the example just would not make much sense.
DeleteI feel the same as Grace. I think basic standards are needed. I also agree with Sam, why would someone want to join a Christian group if they are not Christian? I feel like people could cause problems or offend people if they do not have the same background (I guess you can say) as the people in the group. I also feel that a group is to get people with similar views. I can understand why it is confusing and very hard to make both sides have rights.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that membership should be denied because of gender or race if the individual supports the cause of the group. However, contradictory views or practice of sexual orientation or religious affiliation than those of the group can be grounds on which to deny membership.
ReplyDeleteIf the groups are part of the public school system than anyone should be allow to join the groups if they believe in what the group stands for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sara. If it is a public school system anyone can join. I believe that is why there are private organizations.
DeleteI also agree that membership shouldn't be denied because of how or if someone supports individual groups. It shouldn't have anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sara. If you are for the goals of the group and what it stands for, you should be allowed to join.
ReplyDeleteIt is reasonable for groups to maintain certain standards that pertain to the values of their group. Like Sam and Grace were saying, if you are not in support of the religion of a group, then you cannot be accepted into that group. Religion and gender can be a deciding factor on someone being allowed membership if it goes against the core values of said group.
ReplyDeleteI don't think membership should be outright denied to any person the most I think the groups can do is make certain groups feel uncomfortable so they do not want to join as in the case of a homosexual trying to join an anti-homosexual group but I do not believe the group should be able to say youre homosexual therefore cannot join our group
ReplyDeleteWhile I do agree that groups have the right to choose their members, those groups shouldn't have the right to hold their own standards to whatever public institutions they own. For everyone that argues its okay for catholics to hate homosexuals and have a right to not accept them into their colleges, I say then liberal colleges have the right to not accept conservatives on the grounds that they are conservatives.
ReplyDeleteAaron makes a great point. If one type of institution is allowed to deny members than that would lead to all institutions believing that they can deny members on this basis. That would be unfair and would only bring back the discrimination that we found so hard to abolish.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that people should be discriminated in this way. Wouldn't the religious group want to attempt to appeal to more people and get even more "recruits"?
ReplyDeleteI agree with those who said that groups can have a membership qualification. If someone is against what you're supporting then why would you want them in your group? There are obviously some basic discrimnation that shouldn't be allowed, but some restrictions are all right.
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