UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA TO PURSUE SUPREME COURT CASE

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 17 -- The University of Virginia
Board of
Visitors will defend its long-standing funding policy for student
organizations in the Supreme
Court, University Rector Hovey S. Dabney announced today.
	The Supreme Court agreed Oct. 31 to hear the case, which
addresses fundamental questions about the relationship of church and
state.  It was brought on appeal by
Ronald W. Rosenberger, et al., former student editors whose
publication, Wide Awake, was
denied funding in 1991 because it was determined to be a religious
activity.
	Under the U.Va. board's policy governing student activity
fees, which is administered
by a Student Council committee, activities ineligible for funding
include political
organizations, fraternities, sororities, philanthropic expenditures,
speakers' fees, religious
organizations and religious activities.  All recognized student
groups, including religious
organizations, are allowed to use University facilities and other
non-monetary resources, such
as computers and printers.
	ÒThe University has been advised for twenty years that this
policy is consistent with
state and federal law and does not unconstitutionally discriminate
against religious speech,Ó
Dabney said.  The board's policy was upheld in the Wide Awake case
in federal district
court and in the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
	ÒAfter much discussion, the board has decided that pursuing
this case provides a
excellent opportunity for clarification of a complex area of First
Amendment law," Dabney
added.  ÒOther universities with similar policies also will benefit
from the court's addressing
the merits of this controversy now.Ó
	Among those with whom board members discussed the legal
issues involved was the
Attorney General of Virginia, Dabney said.  James J. Mingle, the
University General
Counsel, will continue to represent the University in this matter
with the assistance of
additional legal specialists.   
###  
November 17, 1994