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TechnographRoman Catholic Foundation sues UW-Madison
Group asking for major funding from university
By Marie Wilson
Posted: 2/6/08 Section: News
The Roman Catholic Foundation, a religious student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is suing the school for refusing to fund evangelical training camps, religious retreats and Lenten booklets.
A judge in a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary ruling Jan. 17 in favor of the Foundation's claim that refusing to fund these activities violated the group's First Amendment right to free speech.
The funding in question is a $39,000 chunk of the Foundation's $288,000 budget for the 2006-2007 academic year, said Alexander Gallagher, a senior at UW-Madison and chair of the student service finance committee.
Conversely, religious organizations at the University seem to understand the limits of what can and cannot be publicly funded, said Brooks Moore, student organization resource fee administrator.
"We haven't had the types of requests for religious programs that are under scrutiny," Moore said. "We do fund religious groups, and they do get money for educational or informational activities."
The goal of the Student Organization Resource Fee, also known as SORF, is to fund events and activities that contribute to the educational environment on campus, Moore said.
These programs can include cultural, recreational and educational activities. However, social programs and events with admission charges are not eligible for University funds, Moore said. Neither are events involving lobbying, electioneering or religious conversion.
UW-Madison has a similar student-group funding system called the Student Services Finance Committee. The committee allocates funds to student resource centers, such as their student union and campus health center, and to registered student organizations, said John Lucas, UW-Madison spokesman.
Groups at both universities said they meet to discuss requests for funding on a case-by-base basis, especially when the requests include issues that walk the line between the right to free speech and the separation of church and state.
A judge in a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary ruling Jan. 17 in favor of the Foundation's claim that refusing to fund these activities violated the group's First Amendment right to free speech.
The funding in question is a $39,000 chunk of the Foundation's $288,000 budget for the 2006-2007 academic year, said Alexander Gallagher, a senior at UW-Madison and chair of the student service finance committee.
Conversely, religious organizations at the University seem to understand the limits of what can and cannot be publicly funded, said Brooks Moore, student organization resource fee administrator.
"We haven't had the types of requests for religious programs that are under scrutiny," Moore said. "We do fund religious groups, and they do get money for educational or informational activities."
The goal of the Student Organization Resource Fee, also known as SORF, is to fund events and activities that contribute to the educational environment on campus, Moore said.
These programs can include cultural, recreational and educational activities. However, social programs and events with admission charges are not eligible for University funds, Moore said. Neither are events involving lobbying, electioneering or religious conversion.
UW-Madison has a similar student-group funding system called the Student Services Finance Committee. The committee allocates funds to student resource centers, such as their student union and campus health center, and to registered student organizations, said John Lucas, UW-Madison spokesman.
Groups at both universities said they meet to discuss requests for funding on a case-by-base basis, especially when the requests include issues that walk the line between the right to free speech and the separation of church and state.
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