“It appears that UTMSU sees diverse opinions as good for most topics, but not abortion,” said Calgary lawyer John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

Students for Life is asking a judge to rule the Students’ Union’s decision as void and order UTMSU to give Students for Life club recognition.

According to the court documents, Russ Adade, UTMSU vice-president, said in a report to his Board of Directors last summer that Students For Life, “which has been recognized by UTMSU in the past, was not recognized for the up-coming school year due to their stance on abortion, in terms of being pro-life and using their platform to tell women what they should do in those situations.”

Later in the fall, Adade said in an email to Students for Life that “you are telling folks, especially women, what to do with their bodies…you folks can’t put them down for making a decision that doesn’t fit with your mandate,” the lawsuit claims.

When contacted by The News today, Adade said he couldn’t comment on any of the allegations.

Last November, UTMSU changed its previous rationale for denying club status to Students for Life, namely the club’s stance on abortion, according to the notice of application.

Adade instead told Students for Life that the reason their club was denied status was “violations and discrepancies we found within your constitution in relation to the clubs handbook and UTMSU operational policy as it pertains to clubs.”

Students for Life immediately made the required changes to their constitution, but alleges UTMSU has continued to deny club status using “chicanery” and legal loopholes.

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED JAN. 20 AT 3:40 P.M.