Judge questions U. of Iowa's response to Christian lawsuit

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge is questioning the University of Iowa's decision to deregister dozens of student organizations following a lawsuit by a Christian student group that accused university officials of discrimination.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Rose said in a ruling Friday that the university can't selectively deregister student organizations.

The group InterVarsity Christian Fellowship sued the university after administrators deregistered its local chapter along with a dozen other religious groups.

Rose says she "does not know how a reasonable person could have concluded this was acceptable" given her previous ruling in a related case.

Another faith-based group, Business Leaders in Christ, sued the university for kicking it off campus following a complaint that it wouldn't let an openly gay member seek a leadership post.