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Univeristy Secular Society Revises Constitution In Hopes of Student Funding

By Howard M. Friedman

The University of South Dakota's Student Government Association's Fiscal Guidelines exclude organizations "affiliated with or dedicated to a particular religion or religious point of view" from eligibility for funding from student activity fees. Volante Online today reports that, applying this provision, the University's Student Senate rejected general funding for the Student Secular Association-- though it can still request funds for speakers. This has led SSA to rewrite its constitution in hopes of qualifying for funding. The new draft constitution merely refers to the group as providing a community for "freethinkers", taking out references to "atheists, agnostics, humanists, [and] naturalists." It also substitutes examining "the universe and humanity" for the earlier language stating that one of its purposes was to examine "the universe and our place in it." Some senators saw no problems with the original constitution, saying that there is a difference between an organization that explores the reasons for personal belief and one that promotes religion.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 12, 2008 (boomark / email).