THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994              TAG: 9411180512
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Short :   26 lines

STATE TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS PUBLICATION

The state attorney general's office said Thursday that it will file a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a student religious publication's challenge to the University of Virginia for denying it funding.

``This is a case about free speech,'' Attorney General James Gilmore said.

``The issue is whether speech expressing a religious viewpoint enjoys the same protection against government discrimination as other forms of speech.

``The practice of discriminating against publications expressing a religious viewpoint is patently unjust. It violates the freedom of speech that Virginians so deeply cherish.''

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed last month to hear the case. In 1991, U.Va. refused to give money to the Wide Awake publication, arguing that that would violate the separation of church and state. U.Va. helps cover expenses for more than 100 student groups. by CNB