Beta Upsilon Chi Upsilon Chapter v. Machen

• Decision Date: 27 October 2009
• Docket Number: No. 08-13332.,08-13332.
• Citation: 586 F.3d 908
• Parties: BETA UPSILON CHI UPSILON CHAPTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, a student organization at the University of Florida on behalf of itself and its individual members, Beta Upsilon Chi, Inc., a Texas non-profit corporation, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. J. Bernard MACHEN, in his official capacity as President of the University of Florida, Patricia Telles-Irvin, in her official capacity as Vice-President for student affairs, Eddie Daniels, Jr., in his official capacity as Execuvit Director of the J. Wayne Reitz Union, Chris Cupoli, in his official capacity as the Director of Student Involvement, Carlos Alfonso, C. David Brown, II, et al., Defendants-Appellees.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eleventh Circuit

586 F.3d 908

BETA UPSILON CHI UPSILON CHAPTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, a student organization at the University of Florida on behalf of itself and its individual members, Beta Upsilon Chi, Inc., a Texas non-profit corporation, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. J. Bernard MACHEN, in his official capacity as President of the University of Florida, Patricia Telles-Irvin, in her official capacity as Vice-President for student affairs, Eddie Daniels, Jr., in his official capacity as Execuvit Director of the J. Wayne Reitz Union, Chris Cupoli, in his official capacity as the Director of Student Involvement, Carlos Alfonso, C. David Brown, II, et al., Defendants-Appellees.

No. 08-13332.

United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.

October 27, 2009.

Timothy J. Tracey, Alliance Defense Fund, Washington, DC, Roger K. Gannam,

Lindell & Farson, P.A., Jacksonville, FL, Isaac Jong Yon Fong, Gregory S. Baylor, Ctr. for Law & Religious Freedom, Springfield, VA, Kimberlie Wood Colby, Christian Legal Society, Fairfax, VA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.

H. Christopher Bartolomucci, Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Before TJOFLAT, EDMONDSON and HILL, Circuit Judges.

TJOFLAT, Circuit Judge:

Beta Upsilon Chi a/k/a Brothers Under Christ ("BYX") is a Christian fraternity.¹ In 2007, the University of Florida ("UF" or "University") denied BYX official recognition because of its refusal to adhere to UF's nondiscrimination policy. BYX thereafter brought this action for declaratory and injunctive relief against the University² claiming that UF, by requiring it to comply with the nondiscrimination policy as a condition of recognition, had infringed its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of association, freedom of speech, and free exercise of religion. After filing its complaint, BYX moved the district court to enter a preliminary injunction forcing the University to recognize it as a registered student organization. The district court denied the motion, Beta Upsilon Chi v. Machen, 559 F.Supp.2d 1274 (N.D.Fla.2008), and this interlocutory appeal followed.³ UF has amended its nondiscrimination policy and has allowed BYX to register. Accordingly, UF moved this court to dismiss the appeal as moot. BYX opposes the motion. Satisfied that the controversy at issue has ended, we dismiss the appeal as moot.

I.

A.

BYX is a national fraternity founded in 1985. It has twenty-two chapters in nine states. According to its constitution, it "exists for the purpose of establishing brotherhood and unity among college men based on the common bond of Jesus Christ." BYX espouses a strict approach to the Christian faith, and membership in the fraternity is contingent upon what the fraternity deems "a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ." This requires agreement not only with the traditional core Christian beliefs and values contained in such ancient expressions as the Nicene Creed, but adherence to a demanding view of the faith. In its doctrinal statement, BYX explains that members must "believe that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, that it is inspired, authoritative, and without error in the original manuscripts." Accordingly, BYX bars from membership non-Christians,⁴ Roman Catholics, and adherents to the traditional Christian orthodoxy taught by the mainline Protestant denominations.

BYX also demands moral and "sexual purity." According to its code of conduct, BYX believes that "sex is a gift of God to be enjoyed inside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Therefore, we will not condone such activity as homosexuality, fornication, or adultery."⁵

Persons seeking membership in the fraternity are interviewed by a panel of at least three chapter officers. The officers ask the applicant a series of questions about his Christian beliefs and willingness to agree with and adhere to BYX's statement of faith, purpose, and code of conduct. An applicant is admitted as a pledge only after all presiding chapter officers agree the applicant has demonstrated an agreement with BYX's viewpoint on the Christian faith and a willingness to conform to the organization's code of conduct.

After admission into the fraternity as a pledge, the applicant must complete the pledge process. The purpose of the pledge process is to examine the applicant's understanding of salvation, his personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and his willingness to accept and promote BYX's doctrine. As part of the process, the pledge must participate in BYX's "Big/Little Brother Program" and is assigned to an active member of the fraternity who serves as the pledge's "Big Brother." The Big Brother is required to watch over the pledge and ensure that he is conducting himself in conformity with the fraternity's code of conduct. Ideological, theological, and moral purity are central elements of BYX's foundational purpose, and the "Big Brother" program is designed as a safeguard against the pledge going astray. As BYX's constitution states,

BYX has fulfilled its purpose over the years, and Satan hates it. He wants to sift this group like wheat and is roaming on [ ] campus like a roaring lion waiting for the chance to destroy us. If the devil sifts our group, he will probably do it primarily through alcohol, but also through sexual impurity or lust, pride, laziness, and contention. So be on your guard.

The "Big Brother" is the first line of defense against such impurities and influences infiltrating the group.

After completing the semester-long pledgeship, the pledge becomes a member of the fraternity. He is then eligible to stand for election to chapter officer positions, vote for chapter officers, serve as a "Big Brother" who can mentor and hold others accountable to the moral standards established by the group, and participate in the general business of the organization.

All BYX members and pledges participate in Cell Groups, which are weekly meetings where the members and pledges hold one another accountable to living consistently with BYX's Christian beliefs and values. BYX also holds weekly meetings, which include prayer, worship, encouragement of specific members, a testimony or Bible message from a fraternity member, and announcements pertaining to fraternity business.

B.

The University of Florida permits and encourages student organizations to undergo its registration process and become Registered Student Organizations ("RSOs"). According to the Student Organization Handbook ("Handbook"), "[s]tudent organizations are an essential part of the University of Florida community and are an integral part of the total academic program. Such organizations foster valuable experiences for students that lead to significant learning and development and create a sense of belonging."

Currently, more than 750 UF student groups are RSOs. There are sixty religious RSOs, of which forty-eight are Christian.

UF's Center for Student Activities and Involvement ("CSAI") is responsible for registering student organizations. To become an RSO, a group must complete registration paperwork with the CSAI and fulfill certain requirements (e.g., select a unique name, describe the group's purpose and activities, and have at least three members). The primary benefits of RSO status are eligibility to apply to the Student Government for funding and priority use of some facilities. RSOs are also afforded a number of channels through which they can communicate with the campus community. These include (1) advertising in the highly trafficked J. Wayne Reitz Union; (2) participating in the annual Student Organizations Fair; (3) staffing an information table in front of the Union; (4) appearing in lists of student organizations in UF publications, including UF's website and hard copy publications; and (5) establishing an organizational website and e-mail address.

A student group may also choose to forego the registration process and exist as a non-registered group. While not afforded the full range of benefits of an RSO, a non-registered group may nevertheless use campus facilities, distribute literature on campus, verbally express its views on campus, and recruit new members.

UF requires that RSOs abide by the University's nondiscrimination policy, as derived from UF Regulation 6C1-1.006(1) available at http://regulations.ufl.edu/chapter1/1006.pdf. (the "Policy" or "Handbook Policy"). The Policy states that UF "is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status" and states that "[t]his commitment applies in all areas," including "to students." The Handbook explains the application of the Policy to RSOs:

A registered student organization may not discriminate against a member or prospective member on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, except as specifically exempted by law. Likewise, among the individual discrimination prohibited by the University policy, but not by law, is sexual orientation.

Unlike non-registered groups, RSOs must have a constitution to demonstrate compliance with basic registration requirements. As of the 2008-09 academic year, each RSO constitution must contain the following statement:

In compliance with the University of Florida Non-Discrimination Policy (Regulation 6C1-1.006) [Name of organization] will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment...