House Approves Barring ‘All Comers’ Rules at State Colleges

Public Universities in Tennessee would not be able to adopt an All Comers policy similar to the one at Vanderbilt University, under a measure passed by the state House Monday night.

The bill is one of several from Lebanon Republican Mark Pody responding to the All Comers policy at private Vanderbilt University, but this measure targets the state’s public colleges. It means schools can’t keep religious groups on campus from kicking out members whose beliefs are different – say, because they’re atheist or gay.

On the House floor last night Nashville Democrat Mike Turner questioned Pody’s intentions behind the bill.

TURNER: “So it prevents universities from discriminating against people who want to discriminate.”
PODY: “No. This bill allows religious organizations to worship with those people that they have of like beliefs.”

Pody assured members this version will not face a veto from Governor Bill Haslam.