North Carolina State University is under fire for a policy that at least one Christian groups says violates their freedom of speech.

The university requires all student groups to have a permit before distributing fliers or approaching other students on campus.

But even after obtaining a permit, Grace Christian Life, a church that meets on campus, said they were still denied being allowed to hand out fliers or talk to students.

They have sued the university, and a federal judge recently grilled state attorneys about the legality of their policy.

"These are adults, adults on a campus, a state-run campus, and before they can talk with anyone or solicit them in some way like, 'Come join our club,' they have to get a permit?" U.S. District Judge James Dever asked.

The university compared the more than 80 year-old-policy to a restaurant reservation. They argued the permits allow university administrators to foresee any potential safety issues.

However, when they were urged to give an example of any safety issues, the lawyers had nothing to say, including any response to how the policy was even enforced on-campus.

Grace Christian Life attorney Edmund LaCour said the university was trying to "micromanage conversations" between student organizations and potential members.

"You have a policy that tries to regulate one-on-one conversations," LaCour said. "It's clear you can't have the 'non-permitted-speech police' everywhere on campus, and so, when you have something like that, it will be applied in a discriminatory manner."

LaCour also pointed out that Grace Christian Life students were treated differently than other students. While they were prohibited from handing out fliers and approaching students, non-religious groups were able to speak freely without a permit.

North Carolina State University denies they discriminated.

"The implication that an organization has been treated differently on our campus because it is a religious group is false," the university said in a statement. "Individuals are, of course, free to engage others in conversations about their faith on campus.

"That free speech right is protected by the U.S. Constitution, and N.C. State not only protects but also defends the right of free speech for this group and all groups committed to the open exchange of ideas, regardless of viewpoint," they said.