Vanderbilt faith groups vow to leave campus

A coalition of 11 Christian student groups at Vanderbilt University are insisting that their leaders should be chosen based on shared faith—the newest front in a growing battle over religious freedom.

The campus groups, who call themselves Vanderbilt Solidarity, joined together to oppose the university’s “all-comers” policy, which says student groups must be open to all students, including in leadership, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. The religious groups say they cannot be led by students who do not share or profess their group’s faith.

“Until recently, Vanderbilt explicitly protected the freedom of all student organizations to select members and leaders who shared and supported the group’s purpose, including—for religious groups—its faith,” the Solidarity groups said April 9, adding that they “continue to pray that our much-beloved university will change course.”