In 1907, The Young Men’s Christian Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association were organized at Idaho State University. These were the first religious clubs on campus. Their purpose was to “assist the Academy authorities in making student life stand for all that is best in manhood and womanhood.”[1] It wasn’t until 1932 that the Desmet Club, M Men, and Gleaner Girls were organized as additional religious clubs.[2] Christian clubs and organizations continued to increase their presence on campus throughout the twentieth century. Not until close to the turn of the century was a religious organization not of Christian nature founded on campus. In 1990, the first Muslim organization, the Muslim Student Association, was formed at Idaho State University.[3]
Religious clubs are constitutional because they are student run. Religious courses, however, are a different story. Throughout Idaho State’s history there has been a hazy line between which classes were religious and which were historical. Starting in 1935, the University offered a course under the title of “Great Books” in which the Bible and other literature were studied. This course was offered until 1979.[4] This course was not against the Constitution because it did not teach religious doctrine. While the Bible was studied, it was taken as literature. Similarly, courses such as “The Bible as Literature”, “Philosophical Issues in Religion”, and “History of the Hebrews and Their Culture” among others have been offered as courses at Idaho State. [[5]][[6]][[7]] While religion was a factor in these courses, their constitutionality was never questioned because they were not strictly religious courses.
In 1935, the first religious courses were offered for credit at the then Southern Branch of the University of Idaho, Pocatello.[8] These courses were offered by the Institute of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were courses in “Bible History” and “Religious Philosophy”. Any student at the university could select eight credits in Religious Education that could count toward a degree. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that courses began to be offered by other religious institutions. These included The Episcopal Student Center, St. Anthony’s Church, and the Methodist Church. [[9]][[10]][[11]] Originally students had to directly contact the religious institution or the registrar for information on the courses. Aside from mentioning that the courses were offered, the course catalog gave no information about what courses could be taken and at what time. However, soon following this influx in religious courses the course catalog began to list those that qualified for college credit.[12]
While such courses may not have adhered to the separation of state and religion, it wasn’t until the 1990s that a lawsuit ensued. The first charges against the University arose after it agreed to conduct a land swap with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Church had outgrown the institute building. They offered to give it and the surrounding land to the university in exchange for some parking lots and storage buildings. This land would be used to construct a larger institute building for the students. Those who sued the school argued that this was unconstitutional and favored The LDS church. Ultimately the charges were dismissed, and the land swap was determined to be within the bounds of the Constitution.[13]
However, a lawsuit on the constitutionality of the courses ensued. It is difficult to determine exactly if or when the courses were pronounced unconstitutional. But all courses offered by religious institutions ceased to be offered for credit following the 2002-2003 school year.[14] Today students are free to take religious courses although they cannot earn any credits that count toward their degree. All religious activity is now purely supported by Pocatello churches and student run organizations.
– Olivia Gines
[1] The Academy of Idaho. The Academy of Idaho Bulletin 1907-1908. 2nd ed. Vol. II. 1907.
[2] Southern Branch of The University of Idaho Pocatello. Bulletin of the Southern Branch of The University of Idaho Pocatello Annual Catalog 1931-32. Vol. VI. 1932.
[3] Idaho State University. Idaho State University General Bulletin 1990-1991. 1990.
[4] Idaho State University. Idaho State University Class Schedule 1978-79 First Semester. 1978.
[5] Idaho State University. Idaho State University Bulletin. Vol. 18. 1964.
[6] Idaho State University. Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2003-2004. 2003.
[7] Southern Branch of the University of Idaho at Pocatello. Southern Branch of the University of Idaho at Pocatello Bulletin. 1946.
[8] Southern Branch of the University of Idaho, Pocatello. Southern Branch of the University of Idaho, Pocatello General Catalog 1935-1937. 1935
[9] Idaho State College. Idaho State College Announcements 1958-1959. 1958.
[10] Idaho State College. Idaho State College Bulletin 1959-1960. Vol. 13. 1959.
[11] Idaho State College. Idaho State College Bulletin 1962-1963. 1962.
[12] Idaho State College. Idaho State College Bulletin 1961-1962. Vol. 15. 1961.
[13] Nixon, Sara. “Land swap ignited suit.” Bengal, March 26, 1998, p. 2,5.
[14] Idaho State University. Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2003-2004. 2003.
saoirbhreathach dolan: jdstover 