Gonzaga University Approves Knights of Columbus as Official Club

An update to a previous story. Tim Drake reporting for the Cardinal Newman Society.

Gonzaga University President Thayne McCulloh has reversed an earlier decision, and will now allow the Knights of Columbus to receive official club status. As first reported by The Cardinal Newman Society, the University had originally denied the group such recognition because it did not admit non-Catholics.

President McCulloh issued a statement yesterday approving the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Council #12583 as a sponsored organization. Reads the statement:

This sponsorship is granted under the University’s “Standards for On-Campus Religious Activities Policy.” The Council has been granted permission to: utilize the University’s name in its title; fundraise on campus for the purpose of advancing the Council’s mission and activities; meet in and utilize campus facilities, including for the purposes of hosting events; and to recruit members and participants in membership activities such as the semi-annual Club Fair. As with other student organizations, it is obligated to follow University policies and procedures.

As an official club, this makes the Knights of Columbus eligible for money from the university and student fees.

The president’s statement also revealed that, as a result of his review, he has directed the Student Activities department to review and update the “Clubs and Organizations Recognition Policy,” with the goal of more clearly and explicitly identifying benefits of recognition and criteria for club eligibility. Those revisions are expected to be in place when the next academic year begins.

Around the same time this story had come out there was also one regarding Johns Hopskins University rejection of a pro-life group likening it to a ‘hate group’. After publicity this was overturned.