Brown University: Wrongful Suspension of Religious Student Group
Brown University inexplicably suspended one of its largest religious student organizations, with shifting and unclear reasons for its decision. Brown ignored requests from Trinity Presbyterian Church's campus fellowship for an explanation of its suspension and the student group finally sought help from FIRE. Brown University finally lifted its semester-long suspension of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) student group after months of public pressure from FIRE.
Case Materials
"Victory for Religious Liberty at Brown University: RUF Reinstated," FIRE Press Release, February 1, 2007: Brown University has finally lifted its semester-long suspension of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) student group. As of last week, the RUF has been restored to its previous status as a recognized student group and held its first on-campus meeting of the school year on Sunday. Brown’s decision to reinstate the group came after months of public pressure from FIRE.
"Brown Suspends Religious Student Group Without Explanation," FIRE Press Release, November 16, 2006: Brown University has inexplicably suspended one of its largest religious student organizations. After offering shifting and unclear reasons for its decision, Brown ignored requests from Trinity Presbyterian Church’s campus fellowship for an explanation of its suspension. The student group finally sought help from FIRE, which has asked Brown to either explain or revoke its suspension.
"Brown University Takes Step Toward Lifting Suspension, But Problems Remain," Tara Sweeney, November 21, 2006: Brown University has taken its first step toward lifting its suspension of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Brown suspended the RUF in early September for reasons that remain unclear. Following FIRE’s November 16 press release, the Christian Union sent a letter to Brown, The Providence Journal reported on the suspension, and FIRE President Greg Lukianoff spoke about the case on The O’Reilly Factor. Yesterday, Brown sent RUF President Ethan Wingfield a letter outlining how the group could apply for re-affiliation for the spring semester. The steps that Brown prescribes, however, remain unfair and vague, as they appear to require that the RUF have frequent meetings with Brown’s Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life and that it communicate with “full transparency”—which RUF already believed it was doing—with that office. Brown also apparently plans to keep the suspension in place throughout the fall semester. FIRE will continue to protest Brown’s actions until the university offers RUF the same rights that it offers other student organizations.
