It seems fair to say that the climate at public universities has become far more hostile to religious groups of all sorts in the intervening years. To call a group "The Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education" and then describe it as "studying all types of groups, not just religious ones, that have adverse effects on students and their families" strikes me as amusing.

When I was an undergraduate at Washington State, fraternities, sororities, and clubs were far more likely to create "adverse effects on students and their families" through drinking, drug use, and casual sex, than any religious group.

If in fact the group will produce recommendations including "advice to colleges on how to establish clear ethical guidelines and regulations to govern campus groups, and "ways for institutions to inform students of their rights, and to teach them what constitutes harassment" that's a positive step. Let's make sure it extends to the Greek and other associations, too.

If, however, the target becomes religious organizations alone, the state seems to be stepping beyond its "neutral" position regarding religion. If its role shouldn't be the "establishment" of religion, it shouldn't be its "dis-establishment," either. These are matters of individual conscience.

Do I like the Moonies, or the Children of God? Of course not. But if parents aren't educating their children about religion, whose fault is it if they're seduced by these groups?

-- Richard Sherry, Dean of Faculty Growth and Assessment, Bethel College (posted 8/19, 11:40 a.m., E.D.T.)

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