Ohio public college removes religious wording from its Web site

After receiving a letter of complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Terra Community College (a public college in Fremont, Ohio) removed a special tab on its home page for Terra Christian Fellowship. The only other group that received its own tab was the honor society Phi Theta Kappa. The Christian group’s page said: “In addition to weekly meetings, special events include staff-sponsored Bible studies, concerts, coffee houses and other activities.” It also contained a passage from Psalm 118: “The LORD is my song and my strength; He has become my victory.” Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert reminded the school that “staff-sponsored Bible studies” violate the First Amendment, which requires that government employees refrain from actively participating in religious activities while performing their official duties. While not responding officially, the college removed the tab, and listed it on the student clubs page. Reference to staff participation in religious activities and the biblical quotation were also taken down.