The Committee on Student Life, which oversees TCUJ and its student-run legislative counterpart, is comprised of faculty and students with faculty in the majority, Biacchi said. Last Thursday, it met to review procedures for hearing TCF's appeal, which will occur either next week or next semester.

The same day, an advertisement appeared in the Tufts Daily newspaper, in which over 25 students, professors and organizations attached their name to a letter by Catalano stating that they support Tufts' nondiscrimination policy.

The Tufts Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC) has voiced approval of TCUJ's decision.

"Honestly, I think TCF screwed up," wrote TTLGBC co-coordinator Elizabeth M. Fischer in an e-mail message. "Now they're all saying that Julie was denied a leadership position because she no longer agreed with their interpretation of Scripture. The truth is that they no longer want her as a leader because she's queer."

"The TCF is trying to dictate to members how the Scripture should be interpreted," she added. "I think that's wrong too."

But in their appeal, TCF and InterVarsity have argued that many religious groups on campus also hold beliefs that violate the university's anti-discrimination policy.

"Their main argument is that you can't regulate beliefs," Biacchi said. "The other argument is, we're giving you money so you have to adopt what we believe is right."

Biacchi said the issue has generated interest from local and national media.