Recently, the news has shed light on an Indiana state law, which allows private businesses to discriminate against homosexuals. Mark Emmert, president of the N.C.A.A. spoke out on the issue Thursday, March 26th, “It’s a bill that creates an in which college athletics would find it very difficult to Operate.” The N.C.A.A. continues to reach out to state legislature to revise the bill.
Mark Emmert’s bold move to speak out against the bill is for a noble cause. Americans have fought discrimination for too long just to take a step backwards. Kirk Schultz, president of Kansas State, and Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, have backed Emmert in revising the bill. “Mark and I have been in communication on a daily basis”, says Shultz. The N.C.A.A. threaten to move their headquarters out of Indianapolis next year, if they see the bill pass.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) “ensures that interests in religious freedom are protected.” as stated by uslegal.com, “One can bring a lawsuit against the federal, state, or local government if he or she believes that laws or other governmental action substantially burden their religious practices. In such actions, the government must demonstrate that its actions served a compelling interest and that there were no less.”
The N.C.A.A. is very noble in its cause to help end discrimination in the state of Indiana. Not only faced with a moral dilemma, with the amount of revenue the N.C.A.A. brings to Indianapolis, it would be a big mistake for the state legislature to drive them out.
I encourage students to spread awareness of this situation. This is not a trend that we want to start in other states. No matter what ideals or preferences people have, they should be treated the same as any other American.
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