With support from Michigan Gov. Richard Snyder and Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) is a notch closer to winning its legal battle with Wayne State University. 

The Christian student group sued the university and both state officials in March after being kicked off campus in late 2017. 

The dispute originated with IVCF’s insistence on selecting only those who ascribe to Christian principles as officers. Wayne State officials said they were not required to “subsidize” discrimination, even though they allow 90 other groups to choose their officers.

However, Snyder and Schuette sided with IVCF, saying the state’s universities must recognize the rights of religious student groups to choose their own leaders. Last week, the organization dropped the two leaders from its lawsuit.

“This is a great day for religious freedom and free speech in Michigan,” said Lori Windham, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. She added that the state officials have recognized “that state universities can’t discriminate against religious student groups. We hope Wayne State will take notice.”