Kay Ivey celebrates win for religious liberty
On Tuesday, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) voted to change a rule that had required teams to play on Saturday – even when their faith belief is that the Sabbath is on Saturday and athletic competitions, like work and other pursuits, should be avoided on the day of rest. Gov. Kay Ivey applauded the decision as a win for religious liberty in Alabama. Earlier this year, Governor Ivey hosted the Oakwood Adventist Academy boys basketball team in her office. The AHSAA has forced the team to forfeit their game in the Association’s semifinals because they would not set aside their religious beliefs and play the game as ordered. “Today’s vote by the Alabama High School Athletic Association is absolutely a win for religious liberty, and no doubt, is a testament to the Oakwood boys and their convictions,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement. “I hope that Alabamians – young and old – can look to these boys as an example. They stood strong in their faith and showed that good can come from a difficult situation. Here in Alabama, we will always stand up for religious freedom, and this rule change is certainly doing just that.” Gov. Ivey wrote a letter to AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs questioning the decision to require the team to forfeit their game or not observe their Sabbath. In their meeting, the team members told the governor they hoped their experience would force a change so that this would never happen again. Seventh-Day Adventists, like Judaism and the Old Testament, hold that the seventh day – Saturday – is the Sabbath, not Sunday. Oakwood Academy is the oldest Black Seventh-Day Adventist school in the entire country. Oakwood Adventist Academy is represented by the Becket religious liberty group. The rule change came in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year, Oakwood Adventist Academy v. Alabama High School Athletic Association. Becket said in a statement that Tuesday’s action by AHSAA will provide lasting protection for religious schools and their athletes and will serve as an example for other states. “We applaud AHSAA for doing the right thing,” said Todd McFarland, associate general counsel for the General Conference for Seventh-day Adventists. “The new rule allows the Oakwood Mustangs to give their all both in their faith and in their sport.” Consistent with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s rule for religious accommodations, the new rule will guarantee that schools from minority faith traditions are not excluded from the playing field or pressured to abandon their beliefs for a shot at the big game. The First Amendment requires workable accommodations in state sports to allow participants of all faiths to compete on an equal basis. “This new rule is a win for both the Mustangs and the First Amendment,” said Joseph Davis, counsel at Becket. “We hope that other state athletic associations will follow AHSAA’s lead so that no school or student will ever be excluded from participating on account of their faith.” To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Kyle South drafts oversight legislation in wake of Maori Davenport-AHSAA controversy
Fayette-Republican, State Rep. Kyle South has drafted legislation that would provide government oversight over the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). South drafted the bill in response to a controversial decision by the AHSAA regarding the eligibility of Charles Henderson High School basketball standout Maori Davenport. AHSAA ruled Davenport ineligible for amateur status, which is necessary to play high school sports in Alabama, because of a clerical oversight associated with her play on the Team USA basketball team. Davenport had self-reported the oversight, and immediate actions were taken to rectify the situation. South said the bill will be pre-filed for consideration in the 2019 regular session, and, currently, 87 of the 105 members of the Alabama House have already signed on as co-sponsors. “Rather than taking special circumstances into consideration and impartially considering the facts at hand, the Alabama High School Athletic Association has created an unnecessary national controversy and callously ruled in a manner that adversely affects an innocent young woman’s eligibility,” South said. “Time and time again, the AHSAA has engaged in behavior and ruled in a manner that clearly calls for more oversight of its actions. Considering the AHSAA receives a majority of its funds from taxpayer-funded public schools and the athletic activities of public school students, there is ample justification for government oversight of its operations.” Under the provision’s of South’s legislation: The State Board of Education would be required to review and approve any rules relating to student participation and eligibility before being adopted by AHSAA. Would require 25 percent of the AHSAA governing members to be appointed by the state superintendent of education or the state board of education. Would require the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to audit AHSAA in the same manner as a state agency in Alabama.
Checking in: What has Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange been up to?
Ever wonder what your mayor been up to each month? Sure you may have helped elect them, but what happens after that? Alabama Today has you covered. Each month we’ll highlight what the Yellowhammer State’s Big 5 mayors have been doing in an effort to hold them accountable and keep things more transparent. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange has been busy this month, keeping up with his constituents and attending events across the city. July 13 Strange attended the Montgomery Education Foundation‘s Brain Forest 2018, “This program benefits both our students and our teachers as a learning laboratory where both walk away with new ideas, better methods and a sense of achievement during the summer months,” Strange posted on his Facebook page. “Thanks to the City and County host Parks & Recreation programs to complement the learning environment, during which children can go horseback riding, learn archery and kayaking or even just run around and be a kid! Not to mention, this partnership has served more than 650,000 meals, engaged nearly 45,000 students and cultivated relationships with more than 50 youth-oriented agencies in the River Region since 2014.” July 17 Strange has his own way of communicating with his constituents: hosting a YouTube series called “Tuesdays with Todd.” Every week on the City of Montgomery Alabama YouTube channel Strange talks about different events, and happenings within the city. This week, Strange welcomes the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All Star week to Montgomery, an event which he says will add an $8 to $10 million economic boost to the city. July 24 This week on Tuesday’s with Todd; Strange is in the newly renovated Morgan Library, to talk about the MCCPL Book Sale, and updates to the library. August 7 On this episode of his show, Strange meets with the Chef of Central, a restaurant in Montgomery, to talk about Eat MGM, Montgomery’s restaurant week. August 14 Last week, on Strange’s YouTube show he meets with Montgomery Finance Director Barry Crabb to discuss the 2019 budget, and budget increases within the city in an effort to provide transparency to the city’s governance.
Petition to revise Alabama HS sports eligibility rules still needs signatures
An online petition on Change.org to revise the eligibility rules within the Alabama High School Athletic Association has gathered some 221 signatures as of press time, though that is figure is 279 short of drive’s the 500-signature goal. The petition’s author, Mountain Brook-area mother Kimberly Fasking, is seeking changes to the state’s high school eligibility rules on behalf of her son Everett, an eighth grader at Alabama School of Fine Arts. Since the school does not participate in sport events under the state’s public schools sports association, attending the prestigious school meant no longer participating in track & field, a rule Fasking seeks to change via the petition. “According to current AHSAA rules, children may participate in athletics at the school for which they are zoned if they are either enrolled in that public school or in a magnet school which does not offer athletics,” writes Fasking. describing her son’s quandary. “Because ASFA is a public school, not technically a magnet school, although it functions almost entirely as one and fits by nearly every definition, students there are left without access to school athletics. If it were a magnet, the students would be allowed to participate in athletics at the public schools for which they are zoned. There is currently no AHSAA rule to address this specific case, so neither they nor the school system can/will allow him to join his old team.” The petition has been posted for some six months. Over the summer the AHSAA agreed to allow homeschooled children to participate in high school sports via local district schools. While this is “fantastic news for so many children in Alabama,” “there has been no such pressure or agreement for children like my son who attend public schools which do not offer athletics,” said the petitioner. “Please help Alabama join the 28 states that already have similar rules and don’t allow the continued discrimination against the children who, because of special talents or other circumstances, are not best suited to a traditional school learning environment. These kids deserve inclusion in their communities’ athletic programs,” Fasking writes.
