Commonwealth Policy Center

Religious freedom in the U.S. is a hallmark of our republic, but unfortunately, religious freedom is under attack in some quarters. Case in point: a few years ago, the University of Iowa delisted two Christian organizations as recognized student groups because they wouldn’t accept leaders who denied tenets of the Christian faith. An Iowa Appeals board awarded the two groups $1.9 million after they concluded that the university violated their religious freedom. It was a big win for religious freedom, especially on our increasingly secular college campuses. It’s also a reminder to colleges and universities that First Amendment freedoms apply to students and student organizations, and denying these fundamental rights can be costly.