InterVarsity announces lawsuit against UW-Superior
This is the text of an announcement letter sent from InterVarsity’s president Alec Hill on October 2, 2006, to all InterVarsity staff.
Dear InterVarsity Staff,
Many of you are aware that our undergraduate student chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Superior was de-recognized last February. Even though the chapter has been denied official recognition by the university, our students and staff have continued to meet. They have been the focus of my concern and continual prayer. I am immensely proud of them, and I am blessed by their dedication and perseverance.
We have attempted to dialog with the university in Superior, Wisconsin for many months, in order to resolve this situation. It has been my prayer that we find a solution that satisfies both the university and our Fellowship (much like we did with Rutgers University three years ago). Unfortunately, this does not seem possible. Even though we have a strong case, (both locally and with recent court decisions), the University of Wisconsin system appears unwilling to budge. I am concerned that if this situation goes unchallenged and our chapter at UW-Superior is not reinstated, the same problem may happen with other public universities. While we certainly hold no malice toward the university or its officials, we cannot ignore this unjust action. Reluctantly, the Cabinet has come to the conclusion that we have only one alternative left. On Monday, October 2nd InterVarsity filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court to reinstate our student chapter and officially recognize it. This was a path I had hoped to avoid, but it is imperative that we protect our student work.
Join me in praying about this. Please pray for our students and staff at UW-Superior. Pray that they will be exemplary witnesses on campus. Pray for their protection, courage, and perseverance. Also, pray for our staff in the North Central region (UW-Superior is part of the NCR) that they will experience God’s grace and wisdom as they serve the chapter there. Pray for our staff and students in the Wisconsin Division as they will likely face questions and pressure from their campus administrations. Pray for the administrators of the University of Wisconsin system involved in this dispute, asking that they may see the wisdom of settling this peaceably and outside of litigation. And pray for those of us who will be responding to questions and charges from the university and the press. We need wisdom and boldness.
[Some intra-office contact information excluded.] Gordon Govier will be handling questions from the public and the press. Feel free to refer people with questions or concerns to him.
In these days I find strength from the Lord and I am encouraged by the word given to Joshua. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people into the land. for the Lord you God will be with you… .” (Joshua 1:6 and 9).
For Christ and the University,
Alec Hill, InterVarsity National President