No action will be taken against Lewis-Clark State College students who put up religious Christmas decorations in their dorms, although school officials are still wrestling with the issue.
"At this point there has been enough uproar in the students' lives, so everything is on hold because of exam week," said William Bachman, director of student life.Last week, students were asked to remove crosses and nativity scenes from their dorm room doors and from common areas such as hallways.
After students said that infringed on their rights, college officials backed down on the doors.
"We may have been too careful on that one. They can have religious symbols on their doors or windows," said Michael Hostetler, vice president for student development.
"But as for the nativity scene, I inquired at many different universities and institutions and there is definitely a difference of opinion, and that is often the way it is with constitutional questions."
Hostetler said he called Idaho's three public universities, Oregon State and other schools. He said about half allow religious displays, and half do not.
"We weren't trying to be the politically correct Grinches who stole Christmas," as accused by a Spokane TV station, Hostetler said.
"We were simply trying to do what we have seen other state institutions around the country do, and follow how they have interpreted those things."
Hostetler said he hopes to attend a February conference on such legal questions and then meet with faculty and students.
"This is education in action. This is the kind of thing our democracy is set up for," he said. "Instead of just one person being king, we have human minds meeting on thorny topics."