Several quotes given by John Burdine, president of The Rock, were incorrectly attributed to Cody Cline in the printed version of this story. The Daily regrets this error. -Ed.

Representatives from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Alliance recently met with representatives from the student activities center to voice their concerns about proposed changes to the student organization recognition policy.

The proposed changes contain a controversial amendment that allows student organizations with “firmly held religious beliefs” to exclude students who don’t affirm they support the organization’s goals and agree with its beliefs.

Matthew Fender, president of LGBTAA and junior in Spanish, said his organization submitted its own proposal with changes to the current draft of the student organization recognition policy to the student activities center.

“Our proposal states that groups could limit membership on the basis of beliefs and goals, but not that they could in any way violate the nondiscrimination policy – they would have to grant individual consideration for students,” Fender said.

The LGBTAA has made efforts to educate students on what implications the new policy would mean if passed, Fender said.

“For the last month and a half, we have tried to get people to voice their opposition to a policy that would essentially allow religious student groups to request accommodation to a nondiscrimination policy,” Fender said. “We feel that it should be upheld.”

The LGBTAA organized a petition in opposition to the proposed changes to the policy. So far, 524 students have signed.

“We’ve had really great feedback from Iowa State students and faculty and staff,” Fender said.

John Burdine, senior in political science and president of The Rock, a Christian student organization, said it is important for his organization and other religious organizations to be exempt from the nondiscrimination policy because of their firmly held religious beliefs.

“We sincerely believe that it is more loving to all peoples if we are able to guard the truth of our message of Jesus’ love,” Burdine said. “In part, this is done with leaders who are committed to our beliefs. We believe that Christ would fundamentally disagree with the modern understanding of certain things like sexuality.”

Burdine said it is not The Rock’s intention to single out homosexuals. He said other individuals would come under the same scrutiny within the group.

“We would refuse to appoint an unrepentant heterosexual fornicator as a leader, even if his sexual preference or orientation were protected by U.S. law or by ISU policy,” Burdine said. “Our hope is that our message is consistent for all sexual immorality, not just homosexual acts.”

Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs, said despite the disagreements, he believes discussion on the issues proceeding in the right direction.

“I think we are having some good dialogue, good conversations with students,” Hill said. “I think we are at a point where there is a better understanding about what that nondiscrimination policy is about.”

Hill said the two opposing views on this issue are working to find a way to protect students from discrimination, while not infringing on the freedom of religion or speech.

“On the one hand, there was a notion that the nondiscrimination policy meant there would be no discrimination in no way, shape, form or fashion, under no circumstances, for no reason,” Hill said. “Well, when that happens, you also kind of put free speech in a precarious position. So we are trying to find a balance there.”