University commencement won’t have a prayer — at least that’s the hope of a group of University students.

Stephen Joiner, the public relations chair for UGAtheists, is leading a group of about 30 students, many of them members of UGAtheists, in the fight to remove the prayer said during graduation.

The group has suggested replacing the prayer, which is led by an invited religious figure, with a separate and optional ceremony.

“I like to say I’m kind of acting on behalf of the student body,” Joiner said. “I feel like it’s important to stand up for people who either don’t know their rights are being infringed or are afraid to stand up for their rights.”

Joiner said he and the group have been working to move the commencement prayer since summer, but have been met with opposition from the University.

He sent a letter earlier this semester to University Registrar Jan Hathcote and Stephen Shewmaker, executive director for legal affairs, saying the “Establishment Clause was clearly violated because this was a religious prayer at a school-sponsored event,” according to documents given to The Red & Black by Joiner.

As an alternative to a prayer during commencement, the letter suggests holding a separate religious service before or after the graduation ceremony or a “moment of silence.”

Shewmaker responded with a letter Nov. 1 saying “invocation at commencement is part of the University of Georgia’s heritage,” according to documents provided by Joiner.

“There have been no Supreme Court of the United States cases interpreting this issue,” Shewmaker wrote. “There have been some cases involving prayer at elementary and high school graduations or high school football games. These cases are distinguishable in that college age students are less impressionable and attendance at elementary and high school is mandatory.”

Joiner and his group sent a letter Nov. 11 in response to Shewmaker’s citing “a whole slew of court cases” supporting the removal of the prayer, but Joiner said they have yet to receive an answer.

Shewmaker declined to comment to The Red & Black. He said to instead contact Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs.

“The invocation offered at commencement is nondenominational as to be inclusive of all religions,” Jackson said. “It rotates among clergy from various faiths. If prayer is not in someone’s tradition, then certainly they’re not required to participate, but we ask they respect the rights of the majority who want to participate.”

Joiner first became aware of the prayer said during the main commencement when he watched his wife graduate. Though the prayer doesn’t promote a single religion, it mentions God.

“I realized this year, I’m graduating and I don’t want them to do this same thing,” Joiner said.

During the semester, the student group has been seeking counsel from the national groups Freedom from Religion Foundation and Secular Student Alliance.

The group has also spoken with high school students who have encountered similar situations at their schools.

As for the upcoming commencement, Joiner isn’t optimistic that the prayer will be moved.

“I really think they’re just stonewalling us at this point, which I guess isn’t really surprising,” he said. “I’m still gonna keep trying, but UGA has the power here, and they think their power is unchallenged.”

He said he did not think the University realized there could be “serious legal repercussions.”

Jackson pointed out members of many faiths — Jewish, Christian, Bahai and others — have led the prayer at commencement.

“We’re very careful to instruct the person delivering the invocation that it should be inclusive and nondenominational,” he said.

The University also doesn’t require anyone to say the prayer or even come to graduation, Jackson said.

“It’s important, but the person isn’t required to be present, and I think that’s what the court ruling turns on,” he said. “And they can just not participate. They can just sit there for a minute and not participate while the others do.”

Joiner said he doesn’t want to punish or embarrass the University, but if the prayer isn’t moved from the main commencement, the group will take action.

“They’ll be in a really serious position if they do that because they’ll have committed a crime against every single person in that audience, so that’s really serious,” he said.

In the meantime, Joiner maintains a Facebook page called “Stop Prayer at UGA Graduation,” which 53 people have liked as of Dec. 12.

“I would like if this were never a problem again for a UGA student,” he said. “Graduation is about everyone. It’s not about one particular religion.”