Judge denies C of O's injunction request in federal lawsuit

A federal judge issued a blow to College of the Ozarks' lawsuit against the Biden administration.

U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark, of the Western District of Missouri, yesterday denied the Point Lookout college's request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, according to an online court filing.

C of O last month filed suit alleging violations of religious freedom by an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in January, according to past reporting. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a directive in February based on the executive order, designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The suit challenges the government order that protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in federally funded housing, such as college campuses, which include dorm rooms and shared shower spaces.

C of O officials say the order violates religious freedoms by forcing the school to change its policy that prohibits biologically male students from living in female residence halls.

In a statement, C of O President Jerry Davis said the school plans to appeal the court's decision.

"For more than 100 years, College of the Ozarks has provided a distinctly Christian education to students with financial need," he said in the statement. "The college will not abandon its mission and will continue to fight so that schools are not forced to open girls' dorm rooms and showers to males and violate their religious beliefs."

Reporter Mike Cullinan contributed.