February (Web-only) 2003

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Christian clubs at University of North Carolina still face problems
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is apparently working hard not to be too harsh toward student groups that do not comply with the school's anti-discrimination policy. It has extended its January 31 deadline for groups to turn in their revised charters and bylaws. And, as noted earlier in Weblog, UNC Chancellor James Moeser allowed the campus's InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter to require its officers abide by Christian doctrine (though the campus's Queer Network for Change is attempting to get Moeser's decision overturned.)

But while InterVarsity has special dispensation from the school's chancellor, other groups do not.

"For most (groups) they had to change the word 'sex' to 'gender' or things like that [in their charters]," Jon Curtis, assistant director for student activities and organizations, told The Daily Tar Heel, the campus's student newspaper. "But all the groups have to be uniform with the University. We can't make exceptions."

For the group Brotherhood in Christ, it was a pretty easy change—the all-male Christian group had to allow women. "If someone would have wanted to join regardless of sex, we probably would have let them in anyway," Jamaal Edwards said.

But as  result of the edict, the Tar Heel reports, the Episcopal Campus Ministry has removed the word Christian from its purpose statement.

"I am more or less indifferent about the entire change," said the group's Matt Curtis. "The argument recently has been motivated more by politics and legal scare than by a true 'moralistic' and heartfelt cause." Yep, he's an Episcopalian, all right.

Columbia astronauts' faith

• Commander with the righteous stuff | Wearing his Texas roots and spirituality proudly, Rick Husband was antithesis of NASA's space cowboys (The Washington Post)