A decision handed down by the Supreme Court stating registered student religious organizations can accept student activity money is drawing national controversy, but SIUC is already practicing the ruling.

A document from USG stating its general philosophy concerning the disbursement of funds is to aid students in furthering educational opportunities through the funding of academic, cultural and other beneficial activities.

The controversy stems from the case in which the University of Virginia denied student activity fees to the Christian publication Wide Awake while allowing funds to go to other student publications.

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The court ruled the university had violated the students’ right to free speech, and therefore student religious groups can now receive funds from student activity fees.

USG vice president Kim Clemens said USG approved every organization that applied for funding for fiscal year 1996. With around 500 RSO’s on campus, 27 of those being religious organizations, she said the small number of applicants enables USG to distribute funds fairly with first priority going to organizations that affect the greatest number of students.

Director for the University Christian Ministries, Reverend Karen Knodt, said one program offered at SIUC is an evening mental health workshop and a work trip to Mexico, in part sponsored by the United Nations, which helps students go to the Guatemalan region with medical and educational supplies.

We use (the money) to fund programs that are not devotional, but an educational nature, Knodt said.

Knodt also said she did not think SIUC was allowing funds to go to religious groups because of any amount of foresight.

It’s probably because we are in a religiously conservative area and it was never questioned, she said. It’s more with being in the Bible Belt.

Deb Watson, financial manager for the Newman Student Organi-zation, said she sees both sides of the debate.

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It’s the right to free speech, she said. But I can also see the Uni-versity (of Virginia) supporting separation of church and state.

Watson said the Newman Student

see RELIGIOUS, page 5