Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdf
Page Number: 9

Cite as:  561 U. S. ____ (2010) 

3 

Opinion of the Court 

status.  RSOs are eligible to seek financial assistance from
the Law School, which subsidizes their events using funds 
from  a  mandatory  student-activity  fee  imposed  on  all 
students.  Id.,  at  217.    RSOs  may  also  use  Law-School
channels  to  communicate  with  students:  They  may  place
announcements  in  a  weekly  Office-of-Student-Services
newsletter, advertise events on designated bulletin boards,
send  e-mails  using  a  Hastings-organization  address,  and 
participate  in  an  annual  Student  Organizations  Fair 
designed to advance recruitment efforts.  Id., at 216–219. 
In  addition,  RSOs  may  apply  for  permission  to  use  the 
Law  School’s  facilities  for  meetings  and  office  space.    Id., 
at 218–219.  Finally, Hastings allows officially recognized
groups to use its name and logo.  Id., at 216. 

In  exchange  for  these  benefits,  RSOs  must  abide  by
certain  conditions.  Only  a  “non-commercial  organization
whose  membership  is  limited  to  Hastings  students  may 
become [an RSO].”  App. to Pet. for Cert. 83a.  A prospec­
tive RSO must submit its bylaws to Hastings for approval, 
id.,  at  83a–84a;  and  if  it  intends  to  use  the  Law  School’s 
name or logo, it must sign a license agreement, App. 219.
Critical  here,  all  RSOs  must  undertake  to  comply  with 
Hastings’  “Policies  and  Regulations  Applying  to  College
Activities, Organizations and Students.”  Ibid.1 

The  Law  School’s  Policy  on  Nondiscrimination  (Nondis­

crimination Policy), which binds RSOs, states: 

“[Hastings]  is  committed  to  a  policy  against  legally
impermissible,  arbitrary  or  unreasonable  discrimina­
tory  practices.    All  groups,  including  administration,
faculty,  student  governments,  [Hastings]-owned  stu­
dent  residence  facilities  and  programs  sponsored  by
[Hastings],  are  governed  by  this  policy  of  nondis­

—————— 

1 These policies and regulations address a wide range of matters, for 
example,  alcoholic  beverages  at  campus  events,  bake  sales,  and  blood 
drives.  App. 246.