Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/09pdf/08-1371.pdf
Page Number: 71

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

23 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

has  a  particular  viewpoint  on  this  subject,  namely,  that
sexual  conduct  outside  marriage  between  a  man  and  a 
woman  is  wrongful.    Hastings  would  not  allow  CLS  to
express this viewpoint by limiting membership to persons
willing  to  express  a  sincere  agreement  with  CLS’s  views.
By  contrast,  nothing  in  the  Nondiscrimination  Policy
prohibited  a  group  from  expressing  a  contrary  viewpoint
by  limiting  membership  to  persons  willing  to  endorse 
that group’s beliefs.  A Free Love Club could require mem-
bers to affirm that they reject the traditional view of sex-
ual  morality  to  which  CLS  adheres.    It  is  hard  to  see 
how this can be viewed as anything other than viewpoint
discrimination. 

V 
Hastings’ current policy, as announced for the first time 
in  the  brief  filed  in  this  Court,  fares  no  better  than  the 
policy that the law school invoked when CLS’s application 
was  denied.  According  to  Hastings’  brief,  its  new  policy,
contrary  to  the  position  taken  by  Hastings  officials  at  an
earlier  point  in  this  litigation,  really  does  not  require  a 
student  group  to  accept  all  comers.    Now,  Hastings  ex-
plains,  its  policy  allows  “neutral  and  generally  applicable 
membership requirements unrelated to ‘status or beliefs.’ ”  
Brief  for  Respondent  Hastings  College  of  Law  5.    As  ex-
amples  of  permissible  membership  requirements,  Hast-
ings  mentions  academic  standing,  writing  ability,  “dues,
attendance,  and  even  conduct  requirements.”  Ibid.  (em-
phasis added).

It  seems  doubtful  that  Hastings’  new  policy  permits
registered  groups  to  condition  membership  eligibility  on 
whatever  “conduct  requirements”  they  may  wish  to  im-
pose.  If that is the school’s current policy, it is hard to see 
why CLS may not be registered, for what CLS demands is
that  members  foreswear  “unrepentant  participation  in  or 
advocacy of a sexually immoral lifestyle.”  App. 146.  That