University administrators to review discrimination policy

UNC officials are in the early stages of reviewing the school’s recently debated non-discrimination policy for student groups.

The policy came under fire earlier this year when senior Will Thomason was voted out of the Christian a cappella group Psalm 100 based on his beliefs about homosexuality.

Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs, has appointed Dean of Students Jonathan Sauls and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bettina Shuford to lead a committee that will review the policy.

After reviewing the Psalm 100 case, the University determined that the group had not violated the non-discrimination policy.

The policy gives student groups the right to limit membership to those who share a certain set of ideas, as long as no student is excluded on the basis of a set of personal characteristics — including sexual orientation.

Following the University’s decision, some administrators acknowledged that the policy was vague and outdated.

Crisp said he will give Sauls and Shuford permission to begin recruiting committee members as early as this week.

He said the committee’s comprehensive review will include comparing UNC’s non-discrimination policy to those of other universities.

Shuford said she and Sauls are hoping to create a diverse committee that includes students, faculty and staff.

Thomason said he’s open to taking part in the policy review committee and wants to be involved in conversations about the discrimination policy.

He said he has already begun working with other students to look at parts of the policy that need clarification.

“I am glad that Winston Crisp is being proactive about this,” Thomason said.

Sauls and Shuford said they don’t know when the full committee will be established.

The committee’s goal is open-ended, Sauls said.

“We are not going in with a preconceived notion of how it will turn out,” he said.

Sauls said he hopes the committee will take an extensive look at how the policy serves students and student organizations.

Student Body President Mary Cooper said she would like to see students be involved in the committee’s decision.

“The goal should be that every student feels safe and welcome to participate,” she said.

Cooper said circumstances have changed since the policy was established and that the committee should take a realistic approach when making changes.

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