Last week, I wrote about Arkansas State University telling its football players to either remove or alter cross decals with the initials of fallen team members from their helmets. The university’s counsel buckled to objections that ASU had violated the separation of church and state by permitting the cross to be visible, arguing that the public institution was endorsing Christianity. One suggestion included removing parts of the decal to only show the initials on a horizontal straight line.
But, according to Fox News’s Todd Starnes, ASU will now let the players wear the crosses, as long as the players pay for them. Technically, the university purchased the decals, which administrators said meant they had “officially sponsored” their production and messaging.
The change of heart comes after Liberty Institute, a religious-freedom organization representing an unnamed ASU player, warned that it would take legal action against the university if it did not act by Wednesday to allow the crosses to be worn.
The athletics department spoke out against the university’s initial decision to bar the decals, but said they had to comply with it. Wearing the crosses was always voluntary, and will continue to be after their reinstatement.