A US federal court ruled that the University of Iowa illegally targeted student religious groups in denying them official recognition. The University had objected to the groups having an ethos requirement whereby their leaders had to be selected from those who followed their faith.

While the case concerned one Christian group in particular, during the course of discovery, it was revealed that the University had put 31 groups on probationary status and every one of them was religious in character.

The University funded many other groups which explicitly restrict or control access to leadership or membership based on categories like race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and U.S. military service. Nonetheless, the University had operated a policy that said “religious registered student organizations are not permitted to require their leaders to agree with and live by the organization’s religious beliefs.”

Ironically, the University claimed they were acting on an anti-discriminatory impulse, but the Court found them to be engaged in discrimination.