Westside

__**Westside Community Schools vs. Mergens –**__ Summary – The Westside School denied a student formed Christian Club that could meet afterschool like any other club. The school argued that the students did not have a faculty sponsor, so they could not form their organization. As the School Board sided with the school, Mergens and the students sued, and eventually moved to the Supreme Court. The school felt that the Establishment Clause to uphold their decision. Question – Did the Schools’ denial of the formation of the club follow directly with the Establishment Clause, making the Equal Access Act unconstitutional? Supreme Court Decision – ==  The decision was 8 votes for Mergens, and one vote for the Westside School. The legal provision was 20 U.S.C. 4071, or “Denial of equal access prohibited.” Mergen’s stance was upheld due to the courts referring to the Equal Access Act allowing all after school clubs are entitled to equal treatment and that includes to the right to organize. ==