But Greg Lukianoff, FIRE’s director of legal and public advocacy, said he disagreed with the College’s requirement that HRCF change its constitution.

“Harvard should really be embarrassed about this,” he said. “They’re creating a situation where Harvard is dictating how these people can be expressive.”

Victor D. Ban ’04, a member of HRCF, expressed a different sentiment.

“I initially felt that the nature of the organization justified this stipulation” that the leaders adhere to Christian tenets, Ban said.

After reading pieces on the HRCF on The Crimson’s editorial page, though, Ban said his opinion changed.

“I really feel that the complaint from the administration, if it is a formal complaint, is valid,” he said.

Ban also added that he believes the requirement on HRCF leaders could harm the group’s mission.

“To have the stipulation is detrimental to what HRCF is meant to be about,” he said. “The stipulation is an outgrowth of fear—of mistrust—of the non-Christian community at Harvard.”

HRCF’s executive board said in a written statement last night, “We believe strongly that a person’s religious convictions are a relevant factor when selecting him or her to lead a religious organization.”

In the statement, HRCF leadership said they have not settled upon any course of action.

The question of whether HRCF’s constitution complies with College policies arose after council representative Jason L. Lurie ’05 said providing funding to HRCF would violate the council’s constitution.

The council grant to HRCF was never approved.

Council Finance Committee member Joshua A. Barro ’05 said the council has approved a “provisional grant” that HRCF will receive after the College approves of the organization’s constitutional changes.

“It’s out of our hands,” Barro said. “The University has been very slow getting back to us.”

Morton said last month that the grant from the council is the group’s major source of funding, which defrays the costs of such activities as retreats.

—Staff writer Alexander J. Blenkinsopp can be reached at blenkins@fas.harvard.edu.