Princeton University: Refusal to Recognize Religious Group

Case Materials

• "Victory for Freedom of Association and Religious Liberty at Princeton University," FIRE Press Release, May 11, 2005: In an important victory for religious liberty and freedom of association, Princeton University has recognized a Christian student group that had been arbitrarily denied official recognition. After FIRE wrote to Princeton on behalf of the student group to remind the school of its commitments to freedom of religion and association, the university quickly moved to restore the group’s rights and to recognize the group on an equal basis with other student organizations. Princeton also pledged to re-examine a policy that unfairly singles out religious student organizations for additional and exceptional scrutiny.
• "Letter from Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman to FIRE, April 22, 2005," April 22, 2005
• "FIRE Letter to Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman, April 19, 2005," April 19, 2005

Media Coverage

• "Students fight for rights," Susan Brinkman, Catholic Standard & Times (Archdiocese of Philadelphia), June 22, 2006: A year ago, a Christian student group at Princeton was denied official recognition by the school, and it took a letter from lawyers at the Philadelphia based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) to rectify that situation.
• "Campus Conscience Police?," Wendy McElroy, Fox News, December 21, 2005
• "Christian Student Group at Princeton Wins Religious Freedom Victory," Jim Brown, Agape Press, May 17, 2005: Princeton University has decided it will no longer deny official recognition to an evangelical Christian student group. The school's Dean of Religious Life, Thomas Breidenthal, had withheld recognized status from Princeton Faith and Action, but the university administration reversed course after an advocacy group intervened.
• "University reverses policy on faith groups," Chanakya Sethi, The Daily Princetonian, May 13, 2005: Under the new policy, religious student groups with ties to faith organizations without established "campus ministries" will be considered for official student group status using the same criteria as other groups. Previously, such student groups were denied recognition.
• "Princeton recognizes Christian group initially denied campus sanction," Chris Newmarker, Associated Press, May 11, 2005: After being initially rebuffed by a Princeton University official, a group of evangelical Christian students who wanted access to facilities and the chance to apply for funds has won a victory.