Northern Virginia Community College: Discrimination Against Political and Religious Student Groups

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Northern Virginia Community College: Discrimination Against Political and Religious Student Groups

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Northern Virginia Community College

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Case Overview

FIRE Victory closed

In February 2012, the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) chapter of FIREfor Sensible Drug Policy was told that NOVA was "unable to fund any student organizations with a political agenda." NOVA policies additionally prohibited any student group "with a political or religious affiliation" from receiving funding from student activity fees. FIREreminded NOVA in May 2012 of its obligation to ensure viewpoint neutrality in distributing student group funding, as decided by the Supreme Court in Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia (1995) and Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth (2000). On June 1, the Virginia Community College System informed FIREthat NOVA will reform its "outdated" policies to comply with the First Amendment.

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