The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire has responded to widespread criticism of its attempt to prevent dorm RAs from leading Bible study groups on their own time by lying about how it handles the larger issue of RA advocacy. FIRE, which broke the news of UW's unconstitutional policy, has the details:

EAU CLAIRE, Wis., November 14, 2005--Under nationwide pressure over its ban on private, resident assistant (RA)-led Bible studies, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) has widened its assault on basic civil liberties while engaging in a campaign of deception. UWEC has told the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) that RAs are now and have been prohibited from "leading, organizing or recruiting students" for any organization or activity in their dorms--an assertion flatly contradicted by the evidence.

"UWEC's response to FIRE defies rational explanation," stated David French, president of FIRE, which brought the situation to the public's attention after UWEC refused to rectify it privately. "Faced with intense public criticism over its repressive policy, UWEC has announced an even more repressive policy. Further, for UWEC to argue that it has 'consistently followed' a policy banning RAs from leading or organizing 'all organizations or activities' flies in the face of the evidence--and logic."

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Finally, in a November 8 letter, the University of Wisconsin's general counsel attempted to justify the Bible study ban by claiming that UWEC has "consistently followed" a "viewpoint neutral" policy prohibiting RAs from organizing or leading "all organization [sic] or activities." This claim contradicts UWEC's own job description for RAs, which gives RAs the responsibility "[t]o help organize and promote educational, recreational, social, and cultural activities that the students want and need," and asks them to "actively assist" in the "political" programs of the dorm. It also conflicts with the fact that the university praised an RA for leading an official dorm production of The Vagina Monologues in 2004.

I just checked out the RA position description from UWEC that FIRE has on their website. All told, it's not a bad description. It's very similar to the descriptions in use at all five of the residence life programs I've worked at. However, I don't see anything in it that would prohibit RAs from leading Bible studies or any other type of religous activities in their rooms.

I understand the position that RAs are always "on duty." I've always interpreted that to mean that if an RA encounters something that needs to be addressed, that they'll do so regardless if they are working a duty night or a desk shift or not.

I've only seen two restrictions at my schools with regard to RAs' ability to take part in student activities. One, we didn't allow first year RAs to rush a Greek organization or hold an executive position in a student organization, as the time committment is a bit steep for someone getting used to the RA position for the first time. Second, we ask that they let us know after their first semester so their supervisor can work with them on scheduling meetings and duty nights etc.

I seriously question UWEC's actions here.

I think that this state institution needs to realize that what they are doing is blatantly unconstitutional. Don't they know about freedom of association, speech, and religion? Too often in this field we have administrators who think their politics and liberal beliefs trump constitutionally protected rights and practices. Will it take a lawsuit that will attack their personal finances to get these folks to snap out of it?

"Will it take a lawsuit that will attack their personal finances to get these folks to snap out of it?"

Assuming that even that would be sufficient strikes me as overly charitable. These people are ignorant not only of the most basic legal principles, but also of the first basic rule of practical politics: if you're in a hole, stop digging. Apparently, the administrators didn't think the Free Exercise Clause was a big enough deal, so they decided to chuck the rest of the First Amendment along with it. Or at least that's what the "new old policy" sounds like.

I am a student at UW-Eau Claire, though I've never lived in the dorms.

I think it's ridiculous that the world is jumping on what in all honesty is a minor issue.

University policy states that the RA *can* organize functions like these, including religious ones. All the university is saying is as employees of the state, RA's cannot have these functions in their own STATE-PROVIDED room. There is nothing saying they can't ask everyone else to meet in the room next door so long as the occupants of that room agree to it. Surely one of the participating students would be willing to allow the use of their room, if this is such a big issue to them?

Derek, if you look at the original letter, RAs were told not to lead Bible studies on their hall at all, even in another room. They could attend one, but not lead it. The reason given was that non-Christians would find it off-putting, which is stupid, considering that it was OK for the "Vagina Monologues" to be sponsored by an RA for 3 years running.

Laura hits it on the head. The reason the school gives (it might make some students uncomfortable) is contradicted by their approval of another RA sponsoring the Vagina Monologues.

Beyond that, the whole comfort and "perceived accessibility" standards can't be uniformly applied. What if a Muslim student complains that he's not comfortable approaching a Jewish RA, or if a white student says she's not comfortable approaching a black RA?

This is a bad policy, and it needs to be revoked.

I am a former feminist activist at the UWEC. I am also a Brothertown-Stockbridge Indian. A few years ago I knew nothing about postmodernist political thought until I offended a feminist professor in history who told me about the importance of deconstruction. Out of curiosity I discovered that cultural Marxism is very popular with some of the feminist and gay and lesbian political organizers who work for the UWEC. My tribal relatives are mostly Christians and we are seen as not politically correct by those who judge Christianity as a patriarchal religion. My involvement on this campus goes back almost 40 years. I not surprised by the current controvery on campus because I sometimes have felt less than equal in the eyes of those promoting certain ideologies.

"I sometimes have felt less than equal in the eyes of those promoting certain ideologies."

Martin,

Ain't diversity wonderful.

"All the university is saying is as employees of the state, RA's cannot have these functions in their own STATE-PROVIDED room."

I assume the faculty are allowed and, in some cases, even encouraged, to engage in blatant political proselytizing in their STATE-PROVIDED classrooms?

of course, they are encourgaged. A professor received an award from the UWEC for his activities off campus. He admits he is biased. His campus organization of staff and faculty members has a listserv and I read it. The current interim affirmative action director is a co-founder of the feminist, peace, environmentalist activist group. They claim they are "progressives." The award-winning professor who claims to be a Leninist-Trotskyist and a Celtic pagan advises student organizations and has influence in the Student Senate which influences the content of programs for students. I am a former member of the organized Left and few admit to understanding the significance of cultural Marxism on this campus. In short, the jargon is for a few and the majority seem to be oblivious of the political organizing. The political viewpoints in the classrooms directly influence the programs for indoctrinating students. I have known the core community of organizers for decades. The websites of some of the organizers clearly that they are post-Marxists promoting cultural Marxism which seems to be popular with so-called diversity people.

Campus administrators know that I know the names of radical feminist, pro-peace, gay and lesbian organizers because I once worked with the Left. I was a founding member of a countercultural organization ( I suggested its name) that has members who work for the UWEC. This organization and its allies is attempting to dominate multicultural discourse and has the means to do so. White feminists claim to represent the interests of ethnic minorities... I have objected to their blatantly New Age or postmodernist statements.

Well, given that logic, can RAs buy bibles with their STATE PROVIDED salary? Their housing is part of their pay and as such they have renters rights. I have religious literature in my apartment (state provided) and I do work for a my religious fraternal order in there. How does this establish a state religion?