Christian Student Group Says Epps Blocking Recognition of Bible Study

Early last September, a first-year student noticed someone walking behind her as she left Harvard Yard. She says the struck up a conversation, thinking the tag-along was a fellow classmate looking for a friend.

But during the conversation, the first-year, who spoke on the condition of annonymity, says the discovered that her new 'friend' was primarily interested in inviting her to attend a worship service at the Boston Church of Christ.

"I told her I wasn't interested," the first-year recalls.

Despite her rejection, she says the church member would not take 'no' for an answer. The same church member began calling her and would try to talk to her in the Science Center. This behavior continued for the next three months, she says.

"She kept asking if I read the Bible, if I knew what it meant, if I wanted to have a different view of God," the first-year says.

Encounters between student members of the Boston Church of Christ and undergraduates are becoming a part of the Harvard experience, affected students and proctors say. University officials say recruitment tactics border on harassment while group members assert the right to share their religious beliefs.

The Church has been accused of being a 'cult' in the past by local religious leaders and by Harvard proctors.

And now the issue has come to a head before the Committee on College Life (COCL), an eleven member student-administrator committee chaired by Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '56 which makes recommendations on issues from randomization to faculty appointments.

Michael J. Hrnicek '96, himself a student member of the COCL, says he submitted an application to the committee last October in order to win recognition for his bible study group, Harvard Christians in Action.

Currently, College rules require 10 signatures and approval from the committee's secretary Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III before a student group is officially recognized by the college. Recognized groups may recruit members on campus, have access to University buildings and may apply for College funding.

But Hrnicek, the president of Harvard Christians in Action, and two of the group's ten signatories are members of the Boston Church of Christ.

University officials, including Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, have questioned the group's autonomy from the Boston Church of Christ and accuse members of harassing students.

Hrnicek says his group is independent from the Boston Church of Christ and the College's charges of harassment are in fact responses to members who are simply exercising their first amendment right to free speech and religion.

"I definitely intend to assert my right tofreedom of speech," he says. And Hrnicek believesthat right extends to inviting fellow students tochurch and to challenging students' religiousbeliefs.

Hrnicek says his efforts before the COCLrepresent a two-year struggle to gain recognitionfor his bible study group from the University.

Hrnicek and COCL member Randal A. Fine '96, whois currently running for Undergraduate CouncilPresident, charge that Dean of Students Archie C.Epps III is stalling the group's approval.

"Dean Epps let the application hide in the pileof papers on his desk for two years," Fine says.

Epps has stated in previous interviews that hehas been slow to respond. "I fully admit todragging my feet on the Boston Church of Christissue and it's because of [the Church's] history,"he says.

Questions of Autonomy

Dean Epps and other University officials haveexpressed concern that Christians in Action is notindependent from the Boston Church of Christ.Autonomy from external organizations is aprerequisite for official University recognition.

Matthew J. DeGreeff '89, a proctor in GraysHall, says the timing of Hrnicek's applicationmakes him question the group's autonomy.

"The [Boston Church of Christ] had written DeanEpps letters asking for an official club oncampus, and then all of a sudden Mike Hrnicekshows up on the COCL and tries to get his group oncampus," DeGreeff says.

"I think this is something the Boston Church ofChrist wants to take and say "Hey, we're officialat Harvard,'" he says. "One of the tabloid TVstations called Dean Epps' office and said `Wehear the Boston Church of Christ is going to berecognized on your campus.'"

But Hrnicek says the group's charter makes thedistinction between Christians in Action and theBoston Church of Christ. "It is set forth in thecharter that I want to put on a Bible study grouptaught from the [Boston Church of Christ]perspective," he says.

Members of the Boston Church of Christ saytheir organization espouses a literalinterpretation of the Bible in which members areencouraged to model their lives on the teachingsof Christ.

But critics of the church say the group'sliteralist translation of scripture lends can leadto use of scripture to recruit and even harassfellow students.

Rick A. Bauer, a graduate of Harvard DivinitySchool and a former member of the Boston Church ofChrist, says some minor infringements ofindividuals' privacy may be necessary in order tofulfill the Church's mission.

"There's this divine mandate that the endsjustify the means because we have to evangelizethe world in this generation, its okay for us tocut corners along the way," Bauer says of his daysas a campus recruiter for the church.

But Hrnicek says his group completelyautonomous from the Boston Church of Christ.

"I've talked to the leader for the downtownpart of the church and I told him that [Christiansin Action] was going to be an autonomousorganization and there was no problem with that,"he says.

Epps' Rubber Stamp

Fine says that actions by individual studentmembers of the Boston Church of Christ should notbe used to prevent Hrnicek's group from beingrecognized.

"Dean Epps doesn't like the church Mike belongsto, he doesn't like the activities of some oftheir members on campus," he says. "Mike hasn'tdone any of those things, I didn't like thislabelling."

Fine charges that Epps withholds officialrecognition from student groups who disagree withhim.

"Dean Epps has a very strong ideology in acertain direction," Fine says. "Some of the groupsthat he has come up with frivolous reasons not torecognize disagree with him," he says. "Dean Eppshas taken authority that, in my opinion, he doesnot have."

Fine says that in the past the COCL "used to bea rubber stamp for Dean Epps' decisions." But Finesays the students on the committee have sincedeclared their independence. "We've made the COCLa place where students have a voice," he says.

Justin C. Label '97, a member of the COCL, saysHrnicek's group has not received just and equalconsideration.

"Those who feel the group should not beapproved are not giving these ten students theirfair due," he says.

First Amendment Violation?

Hrnicek says his attempts to convert otherstudents are protected under the First Amendmentright to free speech.

"I think that it's worthwhile to have the groupofficially recognized," he says. "Where I standhas a lot to do with my initiative and believingthat the freedom of speech should be protected.This is a voice that should be heard on campus."

Hrnicek says he presented affidavits to theCOCL which state instances where Epps threatenedto expel students who tried to share the Bible.

"[The affidavits cite] certain instancesinvolving Dean Epps calling students into hisoffice and telling them that if they continuedtrying to study the Bible with someone they wouldbe kicked out of the college."

In one affidavit obtained by The Crimson,Angela D. Williams '90 says Epps called her atwork during her senior year "demanding" she attenda meeting with him and an associate dean at thetime, whom she does not name.

In the affidavit, Williams said both deansordered her to "stop being a Christian on campus"or they would "prevent [her] from graduating."

"I could not believe that people with suchauthority could use it in this way to harass andintimidate," she wrote. "I was treated like acriminal for being a Christian."

Epps says he "can't agree" that William's storyis accurate.

"I haven't been able to find [Ms. Williams] inthe registry of 1990 although she could've had amaiden name," Epps says. "I don't recognize thespecifics of this incident. Certainly I wouldnever have talked with a person about theirbeliefs."

But Angela Williams '90 is listed in the1989-90 "Harvard University Directory ofStudents."

Williams says she recalls her meeting with DeanEpps and stands by her affidavit "100 percent."

"I did meet with Dean Epps, absolutely," shesays. "I was called in for sharing my faith."

She also disputes Epps' claim that he wouldnever discus personal beliefs. "I felt like thebasic premise of my belief system...was beingquestioned."

In a telephone interview from St. Louis,Williams says she feels her first ammendmentrights were violated.

Conflicting Rights

Educators familiar with the relationshipbetween the Harvard administration and the BostonChurch of Christ say Epps disapproves of theChurch.

"[Epps] dislikes [the Church] very much,"Robert W. Thornburg, Dean of March Chapel atBoston University says. "He has the feeling thatHarvard students have a lot more important thingsto do than fussing with the Boston Church ofChrist."

Hrnicek says he believes Epps discriminated andcontinues to discriminate against his faith,infringing on his First Amendment rights.

Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitzsays the first amendment gives wide latitude forproselytization.

"Short of physical harassment, trespassing, etcetera religious proselytizers should have theright to argue, to persuade, to remonstrate...,"he says.

"We just have to grit our teeth and either walkaway or argue back," he says. "Unless it becomessuch a nuisance that it continually interfereswith your own life."

Thornburg says he fears that the Boston Churchof Christ may file a first amendment lawsuitagainst Boston University or Harvard. "My sense isthat they're setting up several of us, and Harvardwould be the best one [for a lawsuit]," Thornburgsays. "Harvard is our premier institution, that'sthe place you target first," he says.

Epps says he is unaware of any possiblelawsuit. Church officials also say they areunaware of any planned legal action.

This past summer, Epps met with Churchofficials, at his request, to discuss the autonomyof Hrnicek's group.

"It's not for me to say what [Epps'] motiveswere," says Doug A. Webber, media spokesperson forthe Boston Church of Christ.

Webber says many issues were still "left up inthe air" after the meeting. But he says the Churchofficials "made [Epps] well aware that it was astudent run and initiated organization."

Widespread Harassment

The Boston Church of Christ is banned from manycollege campuses around the nation. Collegeadministrators claim that the sanctions againstthe Church stem from issues of harassment and notreligious belief.

In 1993 a student organization linked to theBoston Church of Christ was suspended from theUniversity of New Hampshire for harassingstudents.

The group was suspended for behavioral, notreligious reasons, M. Anne Lawing, Director ofStudent Life at the University of New Hampshiresays. "We deal with student organizations overbehavioral issues that violate our code ofconduct," she says.

The Boston Church of Christ is banned fromBoston University because of problems withharassment and not belief, Thornburg says.

"You must make a distinction between beliefsand behaviors," Thornburg says. "Beliefs areregularly and always [protected] by the freedom ofspeech. We've never objected to anything theybelieve."

But beyond the issues of conduct and belief,Epps emphasizes that Harvard's main dispute withHrnicek's group involves its connection to andautonomy from the Boston Church of Christ.

"It's not a question of speech or belief, thequestion here is whether organizationally [Mike'sgroup] is separate," Epps says.

A Troubled History

The Boston Church of Christ has a reputationfor harassment and deceitfulness in recruiting,various college administrators say. Past problemswith Church members may explain Harvard'shesitation in granting recognition to Hrnicek'sgroup.

DeGreeff said the Church drained studentmembers financially and ruined their academiccareers.

"There have been students who have giventhousands of dollars in tuition payments and loansto the Church, one student was working twenty toforty hours a week and giving all of her money tothe Church," DeGreeff says.

"The Church isolates students from theirfriends and roommates on campus," he says. "Therehave been a number of students who've had realacademic problems here because of the church and Ithink it's not a healthy organization or apositive thing."

Former members of the church claim they werepressured to met recruitment quotas.

Rick G. Bauer, a graduate of the DivinitySchool, once led college recruitment in the Bostonarea for the Church. Rank in the Church was linkedto the ability to draw in more people, Bauer says,comparing the group to a sales corporation. "Themore widgets you sell, the more people you canconvert, the higher in the organization youbecome," he says.

Monique A. Cloutier, a former member of thechurch who converted as a student at Northeastern,says members were always given quotas on how manypeople to invite to Church meetings and were madeto feel guilty if the quotas were not met.

"If you didn't meet the quota, you'd have to goand ride the T before meetings to meet extrapeople," Cloutier says. "[The leadership] would bedisappointed in you for not meeting thequota...God was disappointed, too. There was a lotof motivation out of guilt."

The Church targets smart people which makesHarvard students particularly vulnerable, pastmembers say. "We were told to go after `sharp'people people who made a difference," Cloutiersays. "They really want those type of people, thepeople who can make the biggest impact inspreading the doctrines of the Church."

Intelligent and famous converts add credibilityto a religious group, Bauer says. "The morehigh-profile, successful, powerful a person is,the more attractive a convert they become," Bauersays.

First-year students looking for friends areespecially susceptible to cult-like groups, Bauersays. "Freshmen are very vulnerable, most of themhave not heard or have not been warned aboutcult-like groups," Bauer says. "When you're afreshman, you're lonely and looking to connect."

When Bauer was a leader with the Church,members were shown how to stage bible studies, hesays. "We would have workshops before the semesterbegan on what to say, what not to say, how tosupport the leader, what comments wereappropriate," he says. "The whole thing wascompletely staged."

Cloutier says Church members orchestrated mockbible talks to recruit new converts when she was amember. "You'd practice things you could andcouldn't say," she says. "The view when you're inthe Church is that you can't let everyone knowwhat you really teach or they won't become amember."

During Bauer's stint in the church, leadersmade sure new converts did not have time toreflect on the major choices they were making intheir lives, he says. "We would plan things outand call it [the convert's] conversion calendar,"he says. "We had it scheduled so they had verylittle time to reflect on the momentous decisionswe were encouraging them to make."

Hrnicek refutes allegations of churchmanipulation and control, and says his actions areindependent of the Church leadership and shouldnot be an issue before the COCL.

"[My friends in the Church] respect myindependence," Hrnicek says. "I've been able tomake my own decision, I've confronted all theevidence and heard all the hearsay," he says. "Ibelieve that anyone with an open mind will comeout in favor of the church."

"I am very serious about [my religion] and Ithink this is why the Church has come undervarious charges of mind control and being tooinvolved in members' lives," Hrnicek says. "Thechurch is very serious and I am very serious."

'I gave my word'

Hrnicek said he gave his word to the COCL thatmembers of his group will not violate collegerules or harass students.

Fine said he and other students on the COCLbelieve Hrnicek's pledge.

"Mike has given his word to me and the COCLthat his group will be autonomous," Fine says."Everyone [in the COCL] agreed Mike Hrnicek was astudent of honor and integrity and that to me wasthe biggest reason we should recognize the studentgroup," he says. "The leader isn't harassingstudents and has no plans to harass students."

College officials remain unconvinced, despiteHrnicek's promise. "There's no way Michael Hrnicekcan promise that members of this group are notgoing to recruit or proselytize or harass people,"DeGreeff says. "The students on [the group's] listare some of the major recruiters on campus whocontinue to harass people."

Five or six students in DeGreeff's entrywayhave complained about harassment, he says."[Members] will follow people around and they'realways in the Union. One student was called athome 60 times in a day over Christmas break."

DeGreeff characterizes the recruitment processas "deceptive." "[Members] will ask people to cometo Bible studies, not telling them that they'reled by the Boston Church of Christ," he says."People will show up at the door and ask them tocome to events when the student didn't want tojoin or do anything with the Church."

DeGreeff compares the harassment by studentmembers of the Boston Church of Christ to sexualharassment. "There are a lot of silent victims oncampus because they're embarrassed," he says.

Just Say No

Experts and past members say students should befirm in rejecting church invitations.

"[Members] will keep harassing you and callingyou unless you're definite to them," Cloutiersays. "In trying to be polite, people may say theymight come," she says. "Someone in the BostonChurch of Christ feels like it's their obligationto keep asking until they say no."

Students who continue to be harassed shouldstick together in groups, Thornburg says.

"If you think you're going to get hit onbetween now and the next class and now and whenyou're going in the dining room, have someonewalking with you," Thornburg says. "They'll try toskirt you off by yourself or get two groups onyou. Saying `No' is the best way."

Hrnicek views the harassment issue from adifferent perspective. "When someone talks to meabout God, I'm very serious about it," he says."

I will press people and challenge theirbeliefs," he says. "[Christianity] is notsomething I punch my time card in on Sundaymorning. It's something I do every day, I study mybible every day, I pray every day, that's veryserious."CrimsonSusan C. Home

"I definitely intend to assert my right tofreedom of speech," he says. And Hrnicek believesthat right extends to inviting fellow students tochurch and to challenging students' religiousbeliefs.

Hrnicek says his efforts before the COCLrepresent a two-year struggle to gain recognitionfor his bible study group from the University.

Hrnicek and COCL member Randal A. Fine '96, whois currently running for Undergraduate CouncilPresident, charge that Dean of Students Archie C.Epps III is stalling the group's approval.

"Dean Epps let the application hide in the pileof papers on his desk for two years," Fine says.

Epps has stated in previous interviews that hehas been slow to respond. "I fully admit todragging my feet on the Boston Church of Christissue and it's because of [the Church's] history,"he says.

Questions of Autonomy

Dean Epps and other University officials haveexpressed concern that Christians in Action is notindependent from the Boston Church of Christ.Autonomy from external organizations is aprerequisite for official University recognition.

Matthew J. DeGreeff '89, a proctor in GraysHall, says the timing of Hrnicek's applicationmakes him question the group's autonomy.

"The [Boston Church of Christ] had written DeanEpps letters asking for an official club oncampus, and then all of a sudden Mike Hrnicekshows up on the COCL and tries to get his group oncampus," DeGreeff says.

"I think this is something the Boston Church ofChrist wants to take and say "Hey, we're officialat Harvard,'" he says. "One of the tabloid TVstations called Dean Epps' office and said `Wehear the Boston Church of Christ is going to berecognized on your campus.'"

But Hrnicek says the group's charter makes thedistinction between Christians in Action and theBoston Church of Christ. "It is set forth in thecharter that I want to put on a Bible study grouptaught from the [Boston Church of Christ]perspective," he says.

Members of the Boston Church of Christ saytheir organization espouses a literalinterpretation of the Bible in which members areencouraged to model their lives on the teachingsof Christ.

But critics of the church say the group'sliteralist translation of scripture lends can leadto use of scripture to recruit and even harassfellow students.

Rick A. Bauer, a graduate of Harvard DivinitySchool and a former member of the Boston Church ofChrist, says some minor infringements ofindividuals' privacy may be necessary in order tofulfill the Church's mission.

"There's this divine mandate that the endsjustify the means because we have to evangelizethe world in this generation, its okay for us tocut corners along the way," Bauer says of his daysas a campus recruiter for the church.

But Hrnicek says his group completelyautonomous from the Boston Church of Christ.

"I've talked to the leader for the downtownpart of the church and I told him that [Christiansin Action] was going to be an autonomousorganization and there was no problem with that,"he says.

Epps' Rubber Stamp

Fine says that actions by individual studentmembers of the Boston Church of Christ should notbe used to prevent Hrnicek's group from beingrecognized.

"Dean Epps doesn't like the church Mike belongsto, he doesn't like the activities of some oftheir members on campus," he says. "Mike hasn'tdone any of those things, I didn't like thislabelling."

Fine charges that Epps withholds officialrecognition from student groups who disagree withhim.

"Dean Epps has a very strong ideology in acertain direction," Fine says. "Some of the groupsthat he has come up with frivolous reasons not torecognize disagree with him," he says. "Dean Eppshas taken authority that, in my opinion, he doesnot have."

Fine says that in the past the COCL "used to bea rubber stamp for Dean Epps' decisions." But Finesays the students on the committee have sincedeclared their independence. "We've made the COCLa place where students have a voice," he says.

Justin C. Label '97, a member of the COCL, saysHrnicek's group has not received just and equalconsideration.

"Those who feel the group should not beapproved are not giving these ten students theirfair due," he says.

First Amendment Violation?

Hrnicek says his attempts to convert otherstudents are protected under the First Amendmentright to free speech.

"I think that it's worthwhile to have the groupofficially recognized," he says. "Where I standhas a lot to do with my initiative and believingthat the freedom of speech should be protected.This is a voice that should be heard on campus."

Hrnicek says he presented affidavits to theCOCL which state instances where Epps threatenedto expel students who tried to share the Bible.

"[The affidavits cite] certain instancesinvolving Dean Epps calling students into hisoffice and telling them that if they continuedtrying to study the Bible with someone they wouldbe kicked out of the college."

In one affidavit obtained by The Crimson,Angela D. Williams '90 says Epps called her atwork during her senior year "demanding" she attenda meeting with him and an associate dean at thetime, whom she does not name.

In the affidavit, Williams said both deansordered her to "stop being a Christian on campus"or they would "prevent [her] from graduating."

"I could not believe that people with suchauthority could use it in this way to harass andintimidate," she wrote. "I was treated like acriminal for being a Christian."

Epps says he "can't agree" that William's storyis accurate.

"I haven't been able to find [Ms. Williams] inthe registry of 1990 although she could've had amaiden name," Epps says. "I don't recognize thespecifics of this incident. Certainly I wouldnever have talked with a person about theirbeliefs."

But Angela Williams '90 is listed in the1989-90 "Harvard University Directory ofStudents."

Williams says she recalls her meeting with DeanEpps and stands by her affidavit "100 percent."

"I did meet with Dean Epps, absolutely," shesays. "I was called in for sharing my faith."

She also disputes Epps' claim that he wouldnever discus personal beliefs. "I felt like thebasic premise of my belief system...was beingquestioned."

In a telephone interview from St. Louis,Williams says she feels her first ammendmentrights were violated.

Conflicting Rights

Educators familiar with the relationshipbetween the Harvard administration and the BostonChurch of Christ say Epps disapproves of theChurch.

"[Epps] dislikes [the Church] very much,"Robert W. Thornburg, Dean of March Chapel atBoston University says. "He has the feeling thatHarvard students have a lot more important thingsto do than fussing with the Boston Church ofChrist."

Hrnicek says he believes Epps discriminated andcontinues to discriminate against his faith,infringing on his First Amendment rights.

Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitzsays the first amendment gives wide latitude forproselytization.

"Short of physical harassment, trespassing, etcetera religious proselytizers should have theright to argue, to persuade, to remonstrate...,"he says.

"We just have to grit our teeth and either walkaway or argue back," he says. "Unless it becomessuch a nuisance that it continually interfereswith your own life."

Thornburg says he fears that the Boston Churchof Christ may file a first amendment lawsuitagainst Boston University or Harvard. "My sense isthat they're setting up several of us, and Harvardwould be the best one [for a lawsuit]," Thornburgsays. "Harvard is our premier institution, that'sthe place you target first," he says.

Epps says he is unaware of any possiblelawsuit. Church officials also say they areunaware of any planned legal action.

This past summer, Epps met with Churchofficials, at his request, to discuss the autonomyof Hrnicek's group.

"It's not for me to say what [Epps'] motiveswere," says Doug A. Webber, media spokesperson forthe Boston Church of Christ.

Webber says many issues were still "left up inthe air" after the meeting. But he says the Churchofficials "made [Epps] well aware that it was astudent run and initiated organization."

Widespread Harassment

The Boston Church of Christ is banned from manycollege campuses around the nation. Collegeadministrators claim that the sanctions againstthe Church stem from issues of harassment and notreligious belief.

In 1993 a student organization linked to theBoston Church of Christ was suspended from theUniversity of New Hampshire for harassingstudents.

The group was suspended for behavioral, notreligious reasons, M. Anne Lawing, Director ofStudent Life at the University of New Hampshiresays. "We deal with student organizations overbehavioral issues that violate our code ofconduct," she says.

The Boston Church of Christ is banned fromBoston University because of problems withharassment and not belief, Thornburg says.

"You must make a distinction between beliefsand behaviors," Thornburg says. "Beliefs areregularly and always [protected] by the freedom ofspeech. We've never objected to anything theybelieve."

But beyond the issues of conduct and belief,Epps emphasizes that Harvard's main dispute withHrnicek's group involves its connection to andautonomy from the Boston Church of Christ.

"It's not a question of speech or belief, thequestion here is whether organizationally [Mike'sgroup] is separate," Epps says.

A Troubled History

The Boston Church of Christ has a reputationfor harassment and deceitfulness in recruiting,various college administrators say. Past problemswith Church members may explain Harvard'shesitation in granting recognition to Hrnicek'sgroup.

DeGreeff said the Church drained studentmembers financially and ruined their academiccareers.

"There have been students who have giventhousands of dollars in tuition payments and loansto the Church, one student was working twenty toforty hours a week and giving all of her money tothe Church," DeGreeff says.

"The Church isolates students from theirfriends and roommates on campus," he says. "Therehave been a number of students who've had realacademic problems here because of the church and Ithink it's not a healthy organization or apositive thing."

Former members of the church claim they werepressured to met recruitment quotas.

Rick G. Bauer, a graduate of the DivinitySchool, once led college recruitment in the Bostonarea for the Church. Rank in the Church was linkedto the ability to draw in more people, Bauer says,comparing the group to a sales corporation. "Themore widgets you sell, the more people you canconvert, the higher in the organization youbecome," he says.

Monique A. Cloutier, a former member of thechurch who converted as a student at Northeastern,says members were always given quotas on how manypeople to invite to Church meetings and were madeto feel guilty if the quotas were not met.

"If you didn't meet the quota, you'd have to goand ride the T before meetings to meet extrapeople," Cloutier says. "[The leadership] would bedisappointed in you for not meeting thequota...God was disappointed, too. There was a lotof motivation out of guilt."

The Church targets smart people which makesHarvard students particularly vulnerable, pastmembers say. "We were told to go after `sharp'people people who made a difference," Cloutiersays. "They really want those type of people, thepeople who can make the biggest impact inspreading the doctrines of the Church."

Intelligent and famous converts add credibilityto a religious group, Bauer says. "The morehigh-profile, successful, powerful a person is,the more attractive a convert they become," Bauersays.

First-year students looking for friends areespecially susceptible to cult-like groups, Bauersays. "Freshmen are very vulnerable, most of themhave not heard or have not been warned aboutcult-like groups," Bauer says. "When you're afreshman, you're lonely and looking to connect."

When Bauer was a leader with the Church,members were shown how to stage bible studies, hesays. "We would have workshops before the semesterbegan on what to say, what not to say, how tosupport the leader, what comments wereappropriate," he says. "The whole thing wascompletely staged."

Cloutier says Church members orchestrated mockbible talks to recruit new converts when she was amember. "You'd practice things you could andcouldn't say," she says. "The view when you're inthe Church is that you can't let everyone knowwhat you really teach or they won't become amember."

During Bauer's stint in the church, leadersmade sure new converts did not have time toreflect on the major choices they were making intheir lives, he says. "We would plan things outand call it [the convert's] conversion calendar,"he says. "We had it scheduled so they had verylittle time to reflect on the momentous decisionswe were encouraging them to make."

Hrnicek refutes allegations of churchmanipulation and control, and says his actions areindependent of the Church leadership and shouldnot be an issue before the COCL.

"[My friends in the Church] respect myindependence," Hrnicek says. "I've been able tomake my own decision, I've confronted all theevidence and heard all the hearsay," he says. "Ibelieve that anyone with an open mind will comeout in favor of the church."

"I am very serious about [my religion] and Ithink this is why the Church has come undervarious charges of mind control and being tooinvolved in members' lives," Hrnicek says. "Thechurch is very serious and I am very serious."

'I gave my word'

Hrnicek said he gave his word to the COCL thatmembers of his group will not violate collegerules or harass students.

Fine said he and other students on the COCLbelieve Hrnicek's pledge.

"Mike has given his word to me and the COCLthat his group will be autonomous," Fine says."Everyone [in the COCL] agreed Mike Hrnicek was astudent of honor and integrity and that to me wasthe biggest reason we should recognize the studentgroup," he says. "The leader isn't harassingstudents and has no plans to harass students."

College officials remain unconvinced, despiteHrnicek's promise. "There's no way Michael Hrnicekcan promise that members of this group are notgoing to recruit or proselytize or harass people,"DeGreeff says. "The students on [the group's] listare some of the major recruiters on campus whocontinue to harass people."

Five or six students in DeGreeff's entrywayhave complained about harassment, he says."[Members] will follow people around and they'realways in the Union. One student was called athome 60 times in a day over Christmas break."

DeGreeff characterizes the recruitment processas "deceptive." "[Members] will ask people to cometo Bible studies, not telling them that they'reled by the Boston Church of Christ," he says."People will show up at the door and ask them tocome to events when the student didn't want tojoin or do anything with the Church."

DeGreeff compares the harassment by studentmembers of the Boston Church of Christ to sexualharassment. "There are a lot of silent victims oncampus because they're embarrassed," he says.

Just Say No

Experts and past members say students should befirm in rejecting church invitations.

"[Members] will keep harassing you and callingyou unless you're definite to them," Cloutiersays. "In trying to be polite, people may say theymight come," she says. "Someone in the BostonChurch of Christ feels like it's their obligationto keep asking until they say no."

Students who continue to be harassed shouldstick together in groups, Thornburg says.

"If you think you're going to get hit onbetween now and the next class and now and whenyou're going in the dining room, have someonewalking with you," Thornburg says. "They'll try toskirt you off by yourself or get two groups onyou. Saying `No' is the best way."

Hrnicek views the harassment issue from adifferent perspective. "When someone talks to meabout God, I'm very serious about it," he says."

I will press people and challenge theirbeliefs," he says. "[Christianity] is notsomething I punch my time card in on Sundaymorning. It's something I do every day, I study mybible every day, I pray every day, that's veryserious."CrimsonSusan C. Home