Medford, Mass. — Student religious groups should not have to appoint leaders who do not share their beliefs, a student judiciary at Tufts University announced Dec. 5.
Like several other private colleges, Tufts has an “all comers” policy that requires official student organizations to be open to all students for both membership and leadership, regardless of beliefs. But in reviewing a discrimination complaint filed against Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF), the largest evangelical group on the campus, the Tufts Committee on Student Life decided unanimously the policy should not apply to leaders of religious groups.
“It is reasonable to expect that leaders within individual [religious groups] be exemplars of that particular religion,” the committee ruled. “Therefore, an ‘all comers’ policy for group leadership may not be appropriate for all [religious groups].”
Now religious groups must remain open to all students for membership but can use doctrinal statements when selecting leaders.
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