At this time last year, Cassandra Debenedetto '07 would probably not have made a list of campus politicos.
"She's not really one to seek the camera so, if anything, she'd get a little nervous about the ... attention," said Ashley Pavlic '07, a friend of Debenedetto's since freshman year.
At this time last year, though, the Anscombe Society — the socially conservative, much-publicized student group Debenedetto helped found — was still a fledgling organization, searching for members and seeking official University recognition.
Twelve months later, neither the group nor Debenedetto is still in such virgin territory. Advocating traditional values on issues ranging from sexuality to feminism to marriage, Anscombe has piqued the interest of news outlets across the country, including The New York Times and the Associated Press.
Debenedetto, the former president and current vice president of Anscombe, said she was surprised and overwhelmed by the media interest. "It took a bit of courage for me to be interviewed by those various publications and news channels," she said. "While I don't like ... being in the spotlight or having controversy, I'm also more than happy to get these ideas out there because they are important."
A religion major from Stow, Mass., Debenedetto said that the group's purpose is to "provide support and give a voice" to those students who share Anscombe's values on sexuality and "encourage a greater understanding as to why people feel this way."
The group, however, is not just about chastity and emotional support, nor does it shy away from controversy.
Under the "homosexuality" section of Anscombe's website, the group provides links to articles such as "The Health Risks of Gay Sex" and "Homosexuality and Hope," the latter of which claims that one's sexual orientation can be changed through therapy.
While the group says in a disclaimer that it does "not necessarily endorse any of the views expressed in these articles," some students' concerns are not so easily assuaged.
"I think [Anscombe members] use the excuse of promoting chastity and a celibate lifestyle to achieve more personal and prejudiced views of sexuality ... and of people who hold other family values," said Claire Woo '06, former president of the Princeton Pride Alliance.
Debenedetto denied that the group is homophobic. "We could never be in another person's shoes, but for us it is an educated decision," she said. "We see certain acts as harmful to [people], to their relationships. And there are studies out there ... that support this."
The group has also promoted family values and separate spheres for men and women, inviting speakers to campus who advocate a return to traditional gender roles.
In addition, it has sponsored several open houses and social events focusing on conservative values relating to sexuality and marriage.
For Debenedetto, Anscombe's philosophy aligns with what she has come to believe about relationships and sexuality. While she grew up with parents who "embrace the ethic" advocated by Anscombe, Debenedetto said that her views have also been influenced by her own observations.
"A lot of [my values] just come from ... noticing what kinds of relationships, marriages, families tend to work," she said. She also stressed the importance of academia in shaping her personal philosophy. "Even though I grew up kind of noticing and beginning to formulate ideas about [relationships], it wasn't until college that I began to read" and find arguments to support "what I had been thinking."
Anscombe co-president Mary Cheffers '08 said that this "scholarly approach" — a willingness to marshal scholarly work in support of the group's values — is one of Debenedetto's greatest contributions to the organization.
Cheffers praised Debenedetto for her "dedication to the message Anscombe is trying to bring [to campus]."
With over 150 people now on their e-mail list, Anscombe members hope it can continue an on-campus conversation about family values and sexuality.
"[Those numbers] alone, considering the group is only a year old, show that people are interested in this discussion," Debenedetto said.
Both Debendetto and Cheffers said the group needs to refine its image on campus and reach out to potential members.
"From what I hear going around campus, that we're out to judge people or that we're a hateful group or that we're overly intellectual, I think there might be a misconception that we're a 'holier than thou' group," Debenedetto said. "I don't want other people to think that because of a view that I hold, I might be judgmental towards them."
Not only has Anscombe impacted discussion on campus, it has also made Debenedetto re-examine her post-graduation plans.
"It's funny because a year ago I was thinking, 'Maybe I'll go to divinity school,' " she said. "For me, the group has had a significant impact."
Original URL: http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/02/22/14564/