Raleigh, USA -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill must recognize a three-member Christian fraternity as it challenges the school's nondiscrimination policy, a judge has ruled.
The preliminary injunction issued March 2 by U.S. District Judge Frank W. Bullock Jr. will remain in place until the case is resolved, possibly by trial.
Alpha Iota Omega was stripped of its status as an official campus group because the fraternity wouldn't accept nonbelievers or gay students or sign the school's nondiscrimination policy. Recognition gives the fraternity access to student funds and university facilities.
The fraternity sued last year, saying the university had violated the members' constitutional rights to free speech, free assembly and free exercise of religion.
In his order, Bullock wrote that the university's policy "raises significant constitutional concerns and could be violative of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."
The fraternity's attorneys say they hope to force the university to rewrite its policy for recognizing student groups.