The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has settled a lawsuit with Christian student group Ratio Christi, which argued that the university violated the group’s freedom of speech, Decision Magazine reports.
Ratio Christi applied for $1,500 In Jan 2021 in student activity funding to host a lecture by Christian philosopher Robert Audi on the topic of “Is Belief in God Rational Given the Evils of This World?”
However, the university’s program council rejected the application, stating that such funds could not be used to pay for “speakers of a political and ideological nature” and that the event could only be funded if another speaker with a different ideological perspective was also invited.
Ratio Christi, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, filed suit against UNL in October 2021, alleging that the university’s policy was unconstitutional and that UNL failed to follow its own standards by funding events promoting political and ideological viewpoints without presenting opposing viewpoints.
In response, the court ruled in favor of Ratio Christi, finding that UNL had not distributed student fees to student organizations in a fair, viewpoint-neutral manner.
As part of the settlement, the university revised its policy on the allocation of student fees to student organizations and paid Ratio Christi $1,500, as well as $25,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
“It’s the duty of university officials to ensure student organizations are treated fairly and objectively, not blatantly discriminated against because of a club’s particular religious or ideological viewpoint as happened to Ratio Christi,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gregg Walters. “We’re pleased the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has taken this necessary step to protect freedom of speech on its campus.”
