Religious group sues University of South Carolina over student fees

A federal lawsuit alleges that the University of South Carolina discriminates against student religious groups because the school does not give them activity fees available to other student organizations.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled more than a decade ago that universities cannot refuse to give activity fees to religious groups, according to the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom and the Christian Legal Society, who filed the suit.

Russ McKinney, a university spokesman, said he hasn’t seen the lawsuit and can’t comment.

The advocacy groups said they sent a copy of the suit to the university with a letter saying they will drop the legal action if the school changes its policy within two weeks.

The groups are representing the university’s Christian Legal Society chapter, which says it was denied fees in February.

"Christian student groups shouldn’t be discriminated against for their beliefs," said Casey Mattox, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit.

-with a report from CP