After Courts Block Michigan University’s COVID Vaccine Mandate, School Grants Religious Exemptions

Western Michigan University has granted religious exemption requests to student athletes who sued the taxpayer-funded school after it vowed to kicked them off their teams for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

A trial judge previously issued an injunction, later upheld by a federal appeals court, prohibiting the student athletes’ removal from the football, baseball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, dance team, and cross-country programs.

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Judge Okays Preliminary Injunction for Western Michigan University Athletes

Western Michigan University football practice

Federal District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney granted 16 Western Michigan University (WMU) athletes’ request to continue participating in intercollegiate athletic competition without being injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Initially, four soccer stars sued in August over WMU’s vaccine mandate for athletes, which required athletic participants take the COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 31 or forfeit their spot on the team. WMU has denied all the athletes a religious liberty accommodation.

No similar vaccine requirement exists for any other students at WMU and other universities. The lawsuit says Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are granting religious accommodations to their athletes.

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Judge Blocks Western Michigan University Vaccine Mandate for Student-Athletes

Western Michigan University Women's Soccer

A judge has temporarily halted a mandate implemented by Western Michigan University (WMU) requiring that all of its student-athletes are vaccinated. 

Monday, WMU women’s soccer players Emily Dahl, Hannah Redoute, Bailey Korhorn and Morgan Otteson filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking relief from the school’s policy. 

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