April 7, 1989

Page 1

L

Supreme Court asked to review decision on Westside recognition of Bible Club

Editor'* note: Tbc foUowing «tory was pravidad by the AmMicaii Jewlah CoagnM in New YorkClty: The United States Supreme Court has been aslced to review a lower court dedaion requiring Weetaide High School to recognize a student Christian Bible Club. The request came in a petition filed on behalf of the school board by its attorneys and by attorneys for the American Jewish Congreaa in Mergens v. Board of Edacation Weatslde Commnaitjr SdMoia.

The case began four years ago when a group of Onuha students sued Westside High School in United SUtes District Court because they were denied official recognition for a Christian Bible club to be included in the school's cocurricular program. The club was to provide an opportunity for fdiowship and a vehicle for bringing the Christian mesaage to those who had not accepted Christ. School officials did not object to informal meetings of the group, but refused to reca0Bize it as an official

part of the co<urricular program. The students ccmtended that the curricular activities program was a "limited open fonun" and that, as a result, under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act, the school could not deny the group official recognition, access to empty classrooms, or the use of school bulletin boards or public address systema. The Equal Access Act, a federal statute enacted in 1984, provides that a "limited open form" exists when a school grants an

offering or opportunity for one or more non-curriculum related student groups to meet on school premiaes during non-instructional hours. Permission to form a stu dent club cannot be denied on the basis of the religious or other content of the group's qwech once it is determine that a school has a limited puUic forum in its co-curricular program. Westside High School officials, however, claimed that all co-curricular clubs at the school are an integral part of the curriculum, have sponsors who are assigned

and paid by the high school with tax dollars, and that the school did not maintain a "limited public forum" as that term is used in the Equal Access Act and the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, They maintained that they were free to deny the praixMed club official recognition. The AJCongress filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of the school board's defense. The District Court ruled that Westside High School had not violated the students' rights under either the First Amendment or the

Equal Aceeaa Act wheo j dmied tham ncognition. found that school had properly exercised thsir discretion under the Act when they identified all clubs in the co-curricular program as being related to thtf school's curriculum. However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ovemiled the District Court and agreed with the students' assertion that several of the school's clubs were not curriculum related, including the student government, (CoMtanad em Page 2)

SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINGE 192Q Vol. LXVI No. 31 OiMha, Nabr.

I

2 Nisan, 5749 Friday, April 7. 1989

Rabbi Michael Cook to lead

"Jews and Judaism in a p.m. study sessian on SaturChristian World—Some day. Havdalah services will Fundamental Dilemmas" foOow. wUl be the theme as Temple On SundiQr at 10 ajn., the Israel hosts its second topk wiU be "Jewiah UMer Schoiarin-Residence. RabU standings of Important Michael J. Cook will be the Christian aaims (Belisf in guest lecturer at this pro- the Empty Tomb end Jesus' gram, April 28. 29 and 30. Resmrsetioa)." Branch wUl TUa waaliwfl of study, be served. which is funded by a grant -BtkkUSoeki'mho wiU also from the Phil and Teiri addreaa Tnqpte's 49th anSchragv Foundation, is nual Charlaa Boawi stock opan to the sntirs couiuiu- lUniaters' Institute, is ni^ at BO charge. Professor of IntartestamenPUIowing Sabbath serv^ tal and £ar^ HhiUtitn kea on Friday evaning. Litatatuiea at ths Hebrew Rabbi Cook will speak on Union Coasg»>;«aMi Insti"From Calvary to Obaram- tute of RaUglaB is Cincinnmergau: The Impact of the Jesus' Trial on JewiahA widely puUisbsd auChristian Relatioos." There thor and lecturer. Rabbi win ba aiidaa (rf the Obcr- Cook is known for his expergaaunacsaa Paaaian Play tise on the history and Uterwhich ia setiadBlBd for a atora of the early Christian 1990 prodnetian. An Oneg church as weO as the Uatory Shabbat win follow. of Jodaiam during the peri"ChriatJan Mlsaionaries od of tlM Saoond Ten|)ieL Ha and oar Bible: What Should has lectured extanaively on Be the Jewiah RaqtoaaaT" the mytha formed during win ba.the subject of a 3:30 this sarijr period and how

Super Sunday reports 21% increase in pledges Over 60 volunteers caUed lent facility, and a number fellow Jews in the Omaha of Jewish merchants—Bag area to ask for pledges in 'N Save, Baker's. No Frills Gary Ostrow and Bunny support of the Federation and the RC Cola Company Rothenberg, co«hairmen of and its benficiary agencies. —gradoualy donatad to the the Super SuodiQ'telethon "The fact that over 120 e^. toheiwfit tti%)*i*M»M(r- 'tmtfif^mn kwranm contri"A sMcialthaflks to ation of Ofnua; artMnieiid butori to the '89 campaign Latiy lurman for his artisthat, at press tame, the giant Is a credit to the enthumasm tic time and talents, to fnndraiaing event has raised and persistence of the Joanie Jacobson and EUie $28,704 compared to callers," said Mr. Ostrow. Penner of the Federation $23,660 in 1988-a 21% in- "We want to thank every- staff, and to Rabbi Azriel crease in pledges to the 1989 one who pledged. Thar dc4- and Rabbi Drazen for being lars make it possible for the present on Sunday in a Campaign, "We're very proud of the Federation to continue its show of support for the Fedresults SO far," said Mrs. work in this community." eratioM and its campaign," Rothenberg. "Our callers Mrs. Rothenberg remind- Mr. Ostrow said. have been extrememly dili- ed each group <rf callers that Mrs. Rothenberg exgent and thaV efforts are Jewa have to provide t(x plainsd that pledges are still paying off." each other. "If we don't," coming in. "Many people in Super Sunday was hdd she said, "who will? United tha Sqw Siuday divirion last Sunday at the Rkhman Way can't, the govenuaent prsfar to sign thair cards at Gordmte Cotporata OfBoeSi can't. We have to take care bane rather than pledge on with foUaw-up phone^ calls of ourselves. Wa always the phoM. TIMMS we could not reach by phone will be made during Superwaak, have and we always wilL" April 3,4 and 6 at tha JewThe Richman Gordman (Coatiaaad a* Fage 2) ish Community Canter. (rffice building was sn excelBy Joaaie Jaeobaon FedcratioB pabHc ralatioBs director

BabW Mehael J. Cook they have contributed to today's stsBBOtypical misoonAccording to Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, who was a student of Rabbi Cook's, "He ia a superb Is^ursr— clear, oondaa and sntartaining. Hia agdiaace becomes totally involved in his preaantation, The community will find this study weekend an intaQsctuaUy stimulating'

^""^fefe

I

c

Janice Meyerspn 'trills' R(M^ Blumkin Jewish Home residents IikliMiii II .

I

I Hylia^i

*

"

^-.

- ^_-


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.