Christian Group Cleared by UNC

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Christian Group Cleared by UNC

Special Report - October 25, 2011
An official at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has said that a Christian a cappella group did not violate the University’s non-discrimination policy when they expelled a homosexual member of their group for his views on homosexuality. According to the News & Observer, Winston Crisp, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UNC, said that the University found no evidence to contradict the group’s position that the member had been removed for his ideology, rather than his homosexuality.

The controversy, which started in August, came after the Christian a cappella group, Psalm 100, voted unanimously to remove a senior member of the group, who had been a member since his freshman year The student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel reported that Blake Templeton, the director of Psalm 100, said the student was removed because his views on homosexuality were contrary to the Bible, which the constitution of the organization says its members must uphold.

The News & Observer reported that the University non-discrimination policy allows for student groups to place conditions on membership like shared beliefs, but does not allow membership to be limited on the basis of personal characteristics, which the university has stated to include sexual orientation. As a student group officially recognized by the university and as one that receives university funds ($152.50 from Feb 17-June 30 of this year), Psalm 100 would have either been forced to adopt changes or to lose their status as a student group recognized by the university if they had been found in violation of the policy.