The Campus Crusade for Christ's controversial distribution of the C.S. Lewis book "Mere Christianity" to all members of the freshman class last Thursday sparked discussion rather than debate over the weekend, as most students told The Dartmouth they had mixed feelings on the issue.
Most students said they felt the religious group had the right to mail the book to the Hinman Boxes of the Class of 2002 but that it would have been more appropriate to distribute the book in another, less forceful way.
The mailing last week of the autobiographical account of Lewis' conversion to Christianity capped more than a month of controversy which began last December when Dean of the Tucker Foundation Scott Brown temporarily stopped the books' distribution after some religious leaders voiced concern.
Following a meeting of all the campus religious leaders Brown gave the CCC permission to proceed with the mailing, however the group did not send the books and accompanying letters until last week.
This is the second year the group gave away the books to the freshman class in this manner. Brown said seven Jewish students complained about the mailing last year.
Student Assembly President Josh Green '00 said he thinks the books could have been given away in a more appropriate manner but that student groups should not be limited in their approaches to contacting students.
"I think student organizations should not be restricted when communicating with the campus," Green said. "Personally I'm not sure that ... distributing the books through the HBs was the most appropriate means of distribution, however I certainly believe [the CCC has] the right to make that decision."
Green said he fears what limitations could mean for communication. "I think it's a slippery slope ... We need an environment where people say what they want to say."
Most students The Dartmouth spoke with said they had similar thoughts as Green and that while they might not be personally offended by the book in their HB they can envision others being upset.
"I don't really see it as a problem but I don't think it's necessary to do missionary tactics like that," Elizabeth Carpenter '01 said.
"I personally don't have a problem with it but I can understand others coming from a different religious perspective as having a problem with it," Carpenter said. "I think they should be allowed to do it but at the same time some degree of thought and restraint should come into play."
Other students said they did not feel the CCC should have engaged in the questionable tactic and said they were personally offended by it.
"It was offensive to me," Tina Zarpour '99 said. "It's fairly exclusionary. I don't think they take into account a lot of students aren't Christian."
Robert Simik '99 said he did not feel there was anything offensive about the mailing. "If I were to get this, I would just throw it away. Whoever chooses to read it can and whoever doesn't want to doesn't have to."
Almost all the students interviewed said they would have preferred a distribution approach similar the CCC's Bible giveaway last term. The group placed free copies of the text on tables in dining halls for students to take.
Hillel President Erica Schwartz '01 refused to comment about the matter.
Ali Rashid '01 said the Muslim student group Al-Nur did not have a position on the matter.
Aquinas House Catholic Student Center President Mark Kutolowski '99 could not be reached for comment last night but a message in the AQ weekly bulletin this week reacted to the CCC's mailing.
"Members of the Class of 2002 received unsolicited contact from a religious group this past week. No response is required or advised," the message states.
