Bill targets Vanderbilt policy; gov. pledges veto

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he plans to veto legislation aimed at forcing Vanderbilt University to abandon its nondiscrimination policy. The bill, passed on Apr. 30, would revoke about $24 million in state funding if the school refuses to back away from a policy requiring all official campus organizations to open leadership positions to all students. The policy requires any campus-recognized group — including religious groups — to apply, across the board, the university’s non-discrimination policy, which forbids discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion and sexual orientation. For Christian groups, that means they technically cannot require their group leader to be a Christian. At least 13 religious groups have refused to comply.