UW-Eau Claire's University Senate will discuss a proposal by university administrators today to prohibit students from receiving community service credits required for graduation by working for religious organizations.
According to the proposal, activities in which a student's role is to preach or recruit for a religious group would not fulfill the required 30 hours of service for graduation. This is the first of two meetings for the school's faculty senate during which the proposal is slated to come up.
Chair Susan Harrison must remain neutral in presiding over University Senate affairs, but said she expects a \spirited debate"" today.
The proposed change in policy comes after legal advice given to the administration suggested religious expression could land the state school in hot water; in the past, students could volunteer teaching Sunday school, for example, and earn their graduation credits.
According to student body President Chad Wade, some did. Student opinions he hears reflect students in that position, he said.
""We tend to hear most from the side that's most affected,"" Wade said.
Kent Syverson, professor of geology at Eau Claire, is president of the university's Academic Policies Committee. He voted against the ban when it was presented weeks ago, and will speak as a senator at today's meeting.
""My point of view is that this position that's being advocated by the university is something where they're trying to stifle free speech in the university,"" he said. ""The rule as it's proposed would prohibit religious advocacy, but would still allow political advocacy. And if you take a look at the First Amendment of the Constitution, those liberties are all protected in the same place.""
The ban has sparked debate as to whether the school can fairly keep students from earning credits for work with religious organizations that require membership, but still reward work for political campaigns, which is admitted under the current system and will be preserved even if the ban goes into effect.
The senate's next meeting is scheduled in two weeks.
""I honestly can't predict whether [today's meeting] will go one way or the other,"" Harrison said. ""Who knows what happens in two weeks.\
