[Vision2020] Religous Organizations at UI

[Donovan Arnold]

Tim,

Sorry to correct you here, but when you said the following you were 
incorrect.

"What people are forgetting is that these groups are all student groups and 
their
membership is based on students from UI.  These groups are acceptable to
students because students are the ones who support these groups.  Yes, the
websites are hosted by UI, but our student fees are what covers the hosting 
of
these sites.  Financially, these groups are eligible for funding from ASUI, 
but
again this money comes from the students and not the tax payers.  There is 
an
obvious difference here."

First, not all students support all religious groups on campus. There are 
many students that do not want Muslims on campus. There are many students 
that do not want Christians on campus. There are many students that do not 
want one dime going to any group that is formed for the purposes of 
religion. There are also people that do not want groups formed to promote 
the mental health of Gays and Lesbians, or any minority culture. Some do not 
want money going to support athletic clubs and organizations. Most groups 
are not accepted by the majority of people. But the majority tolerate the 
other groups so they may have there own group.

Second, ASUI, although really small and having a budget of only about 
$$700,000, it is still a real legally recognized government by the Idaho 
State Government. It must comply with all the rules and laws as established 
by the Idaho State Legislature in conducting there meetings and in 
implementation of policy. It is the Idaho state government that charges, 
collects and distributes funds for the ASUI. There is no legal separation 
between what the State does and what ASUI does. ASUI is a department of the 
UI, and UI is a state department of the Idaho State Government.

Third, all student organizations (religious or not) do not only collect 
funds from students, but they also use building space, utilities, and 
resources (chairs, computers, desks, paper clips, and employees) bought and 
paid for by the Idaho and Federal Taxpayer.

Finally, Mr. Wilson is not using any resources of the Taxpayer, he is paying 
the taxpayer, so he is using his own resources, not the governments.

Your argument boils down to one statement. 'Mr. Wilson should be denied the 
opportunity to use the Kibbie Dome because you disagree with his religious 
practices outside the Kibbie Dome and what he is going to say inside the 
Kibbie Dome".

To me, this is the exact same argument that was being made against Gay and 
Lesbian Clubs whenever they tried to use public facilities for events and 
meetings in the 1980s and 1990s . People would claim that the queers are 
promoting sodomy and illegal sex in the state of Idaho and they were a group 
of criminals promoting their criminal activities.

Tell me how your argument is different from the homophobs of the 80s?

Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold





>From: Timothy Rigsby <timo5277 at uidaho.edu>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Religous Organizations at UI
>Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 09:46:08 -0800
>
>What people are forgetting is that these groups are all student groups and 
>their membership is based on students from UI.  These groups are acceptable 
>to students because students are the ones who support these groups.  Yes, 
>the websites are hosted by UI, but our student fees are what covers the 
>hosting of these sites.  Financially, these groups are eligible for funding 
>from ASUI, but again this money comes from the students and not the tax 
>payers.  There is an obvious difference here.
>
>
>The Muslim Student Association, Adventist Student Fellowship, Campus 
>Crusade
>for Christ and Lutheran Campus Ministry all have UI websites.
>Example: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~msa/
>Do they rent the website or is it supported by taxpayer dollars?
>I worked on the campus for 6 years, I know for a fact that at least one
>religious group used the Quiet Room at Wallace Complex on a regular basis.
>I don't doubt the groups aren't publicly funded, but they are using 
>taxpayer
>owned facilities and webhosting.
>So what do we do? Ban them all? I think that would bring up some serious
>First Amendment questions.
>Just because one doesn't like a groups' message doesn't give one the right
>to ban them, or keep them from using public facilities.
>
>Kai T. Eiselein
>Editor
>Latah Eagle
>521 S. Jackson St.
>Moscow, ID 83843
>(208) 882-0666 Fax (208) 882-0130
>editor at lataheagle.com
>
>
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