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A lawsuit against Ball State University's restriction of funding to student groups with which it disagrees has been dropped in response to a change in policy.
WND reported in June the lawsuit brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of Students for Life, which was blocked from receiving student fees because of its pro-life views.
The complaint challenged the university's insistence on collecting money from all students but distributing it to groups with which the institution agrees, such as Feminists for Action and the Secular Student Alliance.
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ADF said that in addition to eliminating blatantly unconstitutional limits on expression, the university "will review and adopt safeguards to prevent viewpoint discrimination in the future."
It also agreed to pay the $300 requested as well as some $12,000 in attorneys' fees.
"We're encouraged that Ball State is reversing its discrimination against pro-life students," said Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins. "Tolerance is a two-way street, and BSU Students for Life deserves equal access to funding and the continued opportunity to share their message of hope with pregnant and parenting students."
Ball State was accused of discriminating against "religious, political, or ideological" expression.
"Public universities are supposed to provide a marketplace of ideas, but that market can't function properly if university officials promote some views over others," said ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton.
"Ball State has taken some important first steps in eliminating the most blatantly unconstitutional aspects of their policies and honoring its intent to 'respect and learn from differences in people, ideas, and opinions.' We sincerely hope this serves as a catalyst to review all policies to maximize the free exchange of ideas at BSU."
The case in federal court in Indiana developed when Students for Life asked for $300 from the school's student activity fund to share educational resources with pregnant and parenting students.
School officials refused the organization's request, "because it advocates for pro-life views."
"Today's university students will be tomorrow's voters and civic leaders," said ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom. "That's why we affirm Ball State University's decision to change course and enact policies that better exemplify the First Amendment values that public colleges and universities are supposed to be teaching to students."
Under the now-abandoned policy, the Student Activity Fee Committee, which controls the mandatory student fees, was allowed "to deny recognition and funding for any reason, including unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination."
The complaint cited First Amendment violations of freedom of speech, compelled speech and viewpoint discrimination.