FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — The University of Arkansas is installing Ten Commandments posters in classrooms across campus, following the implementation of a new state law that requires public schools and universities to display them.
The initiative stems from Act 573, legislation passed earlier this year mandating the posting of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and building in the state’s public education system.
A Christian nonprofit, Counteract USA, donated 500 posters to the university to comply with the law. The group was founded by former University of Arkansas student Abigail DeJarnatt. She declined an on-camera interview but told 40/29 News the goal is to “remind students of moral values” and ensure compliance with state law.
“This is Arkansas law. And so, any opportunity that we have to remind students at the University of Arkansas that right and wrong, meaning and purpose are real, that there is a God who sees them and knows them and loves them, we’re going to take that opportunity,” DeJarnatt said.
The move has sparked renewed debate about the separation of church and state. Chris Sweeney, who leads the Ozarks chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said his organization believes the law is unconstitutional.
“We continue to believe that Act 573 is plainly unconstitutional,” Sweeney said. “For atheist, Jewish, or nonreligious students, it is coercive. And we understand that we’re going to fight back.”
Sweeney added that the Freedom From Religion Foundation is working with the American Civil Liberties Union to prepare legal challenges.
“We’re going to continue with legal challenges,” Sweeney said. “We have decades of precedent behind us that favor the separation of church and state, and we’re leaning into that.”
DeJarnatt emphasized that Counteract USA did not draft Act 573 but is helping schools follow the law as written.
“We didn’t write the law,” DeJarnatt said. “We’re just taking advantage of a law that exists, and a separation of church and state is not a principle or a phrase found anywhere in our founding documents.”
On campus, students expressed mixed reactions.
“Personally, I’m a Christian. I do believe in God. I believe in Jesus and what he did 2,000 years ago. And I think it’s a great thing,” said senior Jace Windom.
First-year Camryn LeBlanc took a different view, “I’m not religious personally, so it’s not like I care so deeply about it. I just feel like they shouldn’t be putting money into kind of pushing religion.”
DeJarnatt said students who want other faiths represented should contact their legislators. Under Act 573, all Arkansas public classrooms must display the Ten Commandments, either through donations or voluntary contributions.