Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth

Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth (2000) is a U.S. Supreme Court case that addresses funding of student groups by a public university. Specifically, according to Southworth, if officials at state institutions of higher learning allocate funds in a viewpoint-neutral manner, they may impose mandatory student fees and distribute those fees to student organizations. Because Southworth validates the common practice of administrators at most public institutions of higher learning while providing guidance for compliance with the Constitution, this entry reviews its background and the Court's rationale.