A complaint filed on behalf of OutLaws – the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender student group at the Moritz College of Law – has brought the Christian Legal Society under review by the university for violation of the nondiscrimination policy.
The CLS, which amended its constitution to state that officers must abstain from acts of sinful nature – including fornication, adultery and homosexual conduct – was the target of the formal complaint presented to Student Affairs. The group’s status as a registered student organization was on hold last week as Student Affairs waited to receive a copy of the new amended constitution.
“At this point, CLS has submitted its new constitution to the university,” said Mike Berry, president of the Ohio State chapter of CLS. “Therefore, the ball is in the university’s court.”
The new constitution of the CLS was submitted to the university along with its application to renew their status as a recognized student organization. Student Affairs, Legal Affairs and the Moritz College of Law will be reviewing the constitution to make a decision on whether the group is in compliance with the university’s nondiscrimination policy, said Richard A. Hollingsworth, assistant vice president for Student Affairs.
Matthew Couch, assistant director of the Ohio Union, received the complaint filed on behalf of the OutLaws.
Responding to the representative OutLaw member’s inquiry, Couch said, “I can’t speculate on a time frame for the completion of that review, but until the matter has been resolved, CLS’s registration status will remain in ‘Application Received.’ “
Staff members at Student Affairs are in the process of reviewing the complaint as well as the CLS’s new constitution to determine its future status as an organization.
“We need to look at both sides of this issue and make a ruling, but we are still in the process of gathering all the facts,” said Bill Hall, vice president of Student Affairs.
“It is the college and university’s responsibility to enforce the nondiscrimination policy,” said Chris Geidner, president of OutLaws. “As such, beyond informing the College Administration and University Student Affairs of our concerns, our only role in this matter is to continue to be a supportive group for the GLBT students and their allies at the College of Law.”
