RELATIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY

It is our hope and prayer that the relationship between your Christian Law Fellowship and the law school and university will be strong and healthy.  On many campuses throughout the nation, such fellowships--whether affiliated with CLS or not--are official student organizations listed in the school catalog and are eligible to use campus facilities and to receive support services and funding on the same basis as other official student groups.  

Maintaining Good Relations

Pray for the people you are working with.

Maintain an attitude of understanding, respect, and cooperation consistent with Romans13:1-7.Live a life of integrity and gentleness, and strive for academic excellence (Philippians 4:4-8; Galatians 5:22-26).

Submit to authority by complying with reasonable restrictions that apply to all student groups.

Make it clear through word and deed that the chapter desires to work amicably within the established system and that it is committed to contributing to the common good.

Resolving Difficulties with the University 

If you need to obtain recognition for your organization from the administration each year, proceed as you normally would. 

If an administrator gives any indication that your group’s application may not be approved, immediately inform LSM staff, Dan Kim and Mike Schutt(lsm@clsnet.org or (855) 257-9800 ext. 3303), or contact Kim Colby in the Center for Law and Religious Freedom (kcolby@clsnet.org (put “CLS student chapter” in the subject line) or (855) 257-9800 ext. 3503).  They can provide you with helpful information and support about what to do to address any concerns. If you are a CLS Student Chapter, please do not contact another lawyer or organization until you have spoken with the LSM staff or the Center for Law and Religious Freedom.  It only creates unnecessary confusion. 

Immediately inform your chapter advisor. Tell him or her that you have contacted LSM. 

If possible (but don't wait to collect this material before contacting LSM), provide us with: 1) the actual policy the administrator is saying is a problem (possibly either a non-discrimination policy or a so-called “all comers policy,” or both); 2) all of the university's policies regarding recognition of student organizations; and 3) a list of other student organizations that are recognized.  Again, these are helpful to have but don't hesitate to contact us before you have this information.

Be specific as to the reason given by the administration for the problem.  To the extent you can communicate with the administration through email, do so. It helps to have a written record of the reasons the administrators are giving.

Many universities administrators misunderstand a 2010 Supreme Court decision called Christian Legal Society v. Martinez.  Basically, that case dealt with a quirky policy, called an “all-comers” policy, not a normal nondiscrimination policy.  Very few universities have such a policy or administer it uniformly.  CLS National has materials explaining the decision on its website. 

The most important thing to remember is that nondiscrimination policies protect religious students, too.  Nondiscrimination policies should be interpreted using common sense: it is only common sense that a religious group needs to choose officers who agree with its religious beliefs.  Other groups get to have leaders who agree with the groups’ viewpoints and mission.  A nondiscrimination policy need not be interpreted to deny religious groups the same right other groups have to choose their leaders.  It is not “discrimination” for a religious group to be religious. Also, emphasize that CLS welcomes all students to attend its meetings and activities.  An all-comers policy is only a problem if it is applied to a group’s leaders. 

Regardless of whether you encounter a problem, it is wise to take certain measures to bolster a good reputation on campus: 

• Be wise and respectful in your treatment of the administrators and other student groups. 
• Place "Everyone Welcome" on all materials your chapter posts or distributes.  While CLS requires that leaders agree to the CLS Statement of Faith, CLS has always welcomed all students to attend its events and activities.
• Place a disclaimer on materials your chapter posts or distributes to the following effect:  "The law school neither sponsors nor endorses CLS's meetings or speech."  Again, this may help avoid problems by reassuring the university that law students will understand that CLS's speech and meetings are not the university's own speech or meetings.
• Your group should continue winsomely to engage the campus and the world through charitable activities on campus. Some law student groups work with other campus organizations to sponsor events and speakers on international human rights, human trafficking, or constitutional law. Others organize food, clothing, or toy drives to give all students a chance to help the community. These are just suggestions, of course, and the purpose is to love and serve your neighbors. But loving and serving as we are called to love and serve helps confront stereotypes that other students and administrators may hold regarding Christians.
• Build goodwill with other student organizations if possible. Begin with obvious allies in other campus ministries, faith groups, and "traditional" groups, and then branch out as seems wise. Build goodwill with the administration and student government. 
• Consider having a CLS member run for student government.  Work with other groups to get a friendly person elected or appointed to student government.  Such a person can be an invaluable ally should a problem arise.