Princeton Faith and Action was first denied student group status by dean of religious life.
By: David Campbell
A group of evangelical Christian students has been granted formal recognition by Princeton University after being initially denied status as a student group by Princeton’s dean of religious life, according to the Philadelphia-based campus-rights group Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Princeton Faith and Action was formed by a group of about 30 Princeton students affiliated with the off-campus ministry Christian Union, which on its Web site describes its ministry as one of "advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Ivy League."
According to the Philadelphia campus-rights group, the Christian Union’s request to have a full-time chaplain on campus was rejected last year by Princeton Dean of Religious Life Thomas Breidenthal.
In March, PFA was formed and applied to Princeton’s student government for formal recognition, but was told that because the group was religious in nature it needed approval from Dean Breidenthal, a requirement not asked of secular groups, the campus-rights group said.
According to PFA leaders, the dean turned down their request, because he did not want to recognize a group associated with the Christian Union, according to the campus-rights group. The students then contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which in turn contacted Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman with a letter in protest of the decision.
President Tilghman responded in an April 22 letter acknowledging that PFA should be given the same consideration as other student groups at Princeton. In the letter, she affirmed the university’s guarantee that "recognition will not be withheld from any group pursuing lawful objectives merely because its aims may seem unorthodox," according to the campus-rights group.
PFA met with student government representatives on May 4 to review its request and was formally recognized as a student group by Princeton on May 6, the campus-rights group said.
"This decision should come as a relief to all religious students at Princeton University," said David French, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. "We commend Princeton for quickly responding to our letter and for fulfilling its promises to respect students’ freedoms of expression, association and religion."
Princeton Provost Christopher L. Eisgruber confirmed Thursday that PFA has been granted formal recognition as a student group, and he said that, forthwith, the university will treat student groups the same way whether they are religious in nature or not. But he said matters related to campus ministries will continue to go through the Office of Religious Life.
Dean Breidenthal stressed Thursday that his earlier denial of recognition was not an arbitrary ruling, but one based on longstanding policy at Princeton. He said that this policy is now being rethought.

