Legal group: UI stifling religious freedom

BOISE (AP) — A Christian civil rights group is taking aim at the University of Idaho's non-discrimination policy, saying it wrongly prohibits faith-based student organizations from selecting members based on religious beliefs.

The Alliance Defense Fund issued a statement Thursday saying Idaho's oldest public university is among more than 160 schools nationwide with policies that violate students' religious freedoms.

The group says the University of Idaho prohibits student groups from discriminating based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund argue the First Amendment gives faith-based student groups the right to select members with similar religious beliefs. The group wrote Dean of Students Bruce Pitman seeking a revision.

Pitman didn't return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.