FREEDOM FROM RELIGION Ua P.O. BOX 750 » MADISON. WI 53701 - (608) 256-8900 » WWW.FFRF.ORG ‘August 18,2015 SENT VIA EMAIL & US. MAIL TO: pastides@se0du President Hastis Pasties Office ofthe Preside University of South Carolina ‘Osborne Administration Building, Suite 206 Columbia $C 29208 Dear Dr. Pastides: We are writing on behalf ofthe Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF regarding the football chaplain at the University of South Carolin. FERF is a national nonprofit organization with 22,700 members cross the ‘county. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to represent the views of feethinkers (atheist, agnostics and nonbeliever). For years, FERF has received complaints about sports chaplains, both atthe highschool and university level. ‘These complaints led us to issue a report this month detailing the nature and extent of chaplaincies andthe problems that they erate fr student-athletes, as well as the problems tht they este for USC. ‘The University of South Carolina has football chaplain. It makes no difference if the chaplain is unoficial, not school-sponsored, ora volunter, because chapisns are given access othe team asa means for coaches 10 Jmpose religion, usually Christianity, on their players, Under the circumstances, the chaplain’ssetions are atributable to the university and those ations are unconstitutional. For instance, USC chaplain Adrian Despres| ‘receives $4,500 per year for his work asa "Character Coach” despite USC's chaplain policy which states that a “chaplain may not be remunerated bythe Athletic Department for services proved and work performed in his or ner capacity as chaplain.” Pleat read the enclosed report on the nature and extent of thse chapaincies andthe legal ability hat the University of South Carolina exposes ise toby allowing its chapaiey Yo continue. The curt policies athe Universi of South Carolina fl wo properly pote your student athletes right of conscience and pose a high degres of ik of discrimination. isnot a mater of but when an issue wil rie fom tis entanglement. In order to ad the university in protecting its students fom religious discrimination, we are also recommending the adoption ofa model policy. IFadopted, this model policy would nt only being the university into ‘compliance wih the law but t would send the message thatthe Unversity of South Carolina values the rights of ‘every student athlete (o old his or her own religious or noneligious views, fee fom director indirect coercion ‘or contrary endorsement ‘We would be happy to consult with you and the university funher regarding this mate. Sincerely, TR Farler Qu Hoan glee Dan Batker and Annie Laie Gaylor ‘Co-residents Dan Batkerand Annie Lute Gayle, Coreen