The Christian Legal Society and "Discrimination"

Here's something for the "they say they value pluralism and liberal values, but don't understand either" file:  At Arizona State University, the Christian Legal Society has filed a lawsuit challenging the University's "non-discrimination" policy, under which student organizations cannot "engage in discriminatory activities ... on the basis of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, color, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status."  The CLS claims that the University's non-discrimination rule, in fact, discriminates against the CLS.  (The CLS asks all members to sign a statement of faith before they can join.).

Here and here are links to stories in the University's student paper.  One writer states:

While we've never been shy to oppose the administration, this time we got their backs.

We hope this strong performance by President Michael Crow and his legal team will set a precedent against discrimination of all types, not just against non-Christians and homosexuals.

The CLS claims it can be comprised of whomever it wants, and if you don't mesh with its beliefs, why even bother showing up?

Simply put -- we want the option to show up where we're not wanted, and the CLS doesn't believe we deserve that right. 

I'm sure these very eager and self-confident student-writers would be crushed to learn that they are championing an illiberal, intolerant, and homogenizing rule, but if the shoe fits . . . 

One crusading op-ed concludes:  "Not since 'Independence Day' have we been united like this against a common enemy. We, too, will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight. And we don't even need Will Smith on our side."  So, the CLS is playing the role of earth-destroying invading aliens in this scenario?

This is a serious problem:  Our best and brightest, well-meaning and talented students seem increasingly unable to distinguish between invidious state-sponsored discrimination and the self-determination of voluntary associations that are essential to any meaningful vision of freedom.

Rick