Chastity group gets University approval

The Anscombe Society, which seeks to promote a conservative sexual ethic that members believe is lacking on campus, was officially recognized as a University student group on Thursday.

The change in status was announced during the USG meeting Sunday night.

Named after the English philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe, the organization hopes to provide a support group for Princeton students with similar ethical beliefs on issues of sexuality, family and social lifestyle. These beliefs include an opposition to abortion and homosexual relationships, as well as support for those who wish to live a life of chastity.

"We're not out there to create conflicts," said Anscombe co-president Jonathan Galeano '08. "Everyone is entitled to their own group and their own beliefs. We're just here to support those who believe in living a sexually and morally ethical lifestyle."

Galeano said that the group will receive University funding through the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, but will also seek to raise private funds.

In order to be granted official University group status, the organization's leaders were required to make a presentation to the Student Groups Recognition Committee, a board advised by Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne and comprised by seven undergraduate members.

Committee chair Emily Arensman '06 explained that the group's nonpartisan stance was crucial in its approval. "Though the Committee questioned the inclusivity of the group, the officers ensured that the Society would be free of any religious or political affiliation," Arensman said in an email. "They were also very straightforward in outlining the philosophy of the society and its underrepresentation on college campuses."

She added that the committee "was especially pleased that the group's proposal invited debate and discourse between members of the society, and between other individuals or groups who may share opposing opinions on sexual ethics."

According to Galeano, the idea for the group had been floating around for a while, but didn't begin to take shape until last November. Since then, he and other leaders have been looking for new members and planning the future of a group they believe will provide a much-needed voice on campus.

"Anscombe will be something beneficial to the community here at Princeton," said Cody May '07, the group's advertising coordinator. "It's a support group for those who want to live a life of chastity but find it difficult to uphold that ethic in the environment at Princeton."

"We're not affiliated with any religion," May added, "although many members are religious. You don't have to be theistic to be a part of the group. Everyone is encouraged to join."

The group plans to hold frequent meetings and discussion groups, invite speakers to Princeton and contribute to campus discourse by writing occasional opinion articles and speaking out on issues they feel strongly about.

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Though Anscombe currently has about a dozen members, Galeano believes that more people have become interested in the group since hearing about its philosophy at the recent activities fair in Dillon Gym.

May admits that not everyone at the fair was supportive of the organization's views — especially since Anscombe's table was adjacent to the pro-choice student group's table — but stressed that disagreement is healthy for a university.

"That's the point of the group: to be able to engage the community on these issues," May said. "To try to get people to think about these very key issues, not only in their lives here at Princeton but in their lives once they leave school."