March 22, 2000

10:32 AM

The Supreme Court ruled today that university student fees may go to controversial groups in order to create a "marketplace of ideas". As a member of a university student funding board (and as a member of "controversial" student groups, i.e. GLBT groups), I've been eagerly awaiting this ruling all semester. The case began in 1996 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where three students challenged the use of mandatory student fees to fund campus organizations that they had politically and idealogically objections to. For the full text of the Supremem Court decision, visit campusspeech.org.
posted by hit-or-miss (1 comment total)

As a student at UW-Madison, and a member of 2 of the liberal groups mentioned in the lawsuit, I congratulate the Court on making the right decision. Not only is the segregated fees system a neutral forum (any registered student group can apply for funding), but the groups themselves add to the important functions of the university set forth in their mission statement.
By the way, there were about 20 groups named in the lawsuit, ranging from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Campus Center, to the Campus Women's Center, to the campus chapter of Amnesty International. Scott Southworth, the guy who sued the school, is a real schmuck.

posted by UWliberal at 8:13 PM on March 22, 2000