[Vision2020] NSA CUP comment

[Jim Meyer]

New St. Andrews College can only operate "in the public interest" if 
enrollment is open to all, regardless of religious affiliation. This is 
a straightforward, well established legal test and pretty much overrides 
all other issues. For example, a museum that is open to the entire 
public would be in the public interest. A museum that keeps the door 
locked except to certain people who have a note from a religious leader 
of a particular denomination, on the other hand,  is NOT behaving in the 
public interest.

NSA requires that kind of note as a requirement for admission.

If there is a religious test for enrollment, and I believe there is, 
then benefit from public largess consisting of tax and zoning breaks 
accrues only to NSA while the public be damned. Compare Gonzaga's 
admission policy and mission statement to NSA's. Gonzaga University has 
religious foundations but it's admission policy is open and their stated 
mission is obviously in the public interest. NSA's admission policy is 
closed and their stated mission in no way encompasses the community at 
large.

NSA would argue that they do serve the public interest in that although 
they represent one point of view not shared by the majority of the 
community, that other groups of people with other points of view are 
free to start their own religious school and also receive non-profit 
status and also get the benefit of property tax breaks. I would argue 
instead, that it is the role of the community, county and state to 
decrease conflict and not increase it. Another primary test for public 
interest is whether or not the activity increases or decreases community 
polarization and associated levels of conflict. NSA increases 
polarization and conflict by not including all members of the community. 
Providing tax breaks, exemptions from zoning, and nonprofit educational 
status to an organization that is not freely open to everyone regardless 
of religious affiliation is NOT in the public interest.

Please feel free to use this comment in any manner, but only without 
abridgment.

Jim Meyer