December 19, 2007 | Sex & Society

Student faked straight-bashing

A Princeton University student is recovering after a violent attack over the weekend. He claimed he had been assaulted, and beaten unconscious, by two men dressed in black. This followed several e-mail death threats that he received after writing an editorial against the University's decision to distribute free condoms on campus.

And though the young man was well respected amongst the more conservative circles at the school -- he was a member of the Anscombe Society, a student group against same-sex marriage and pre-marital sex, and had been selected for the religious life counsel -- Francisco Nava, 23, can now add big fat liar to his resume.

"During the course of the investigation, there were some inconsistencies, which we presented to him and he admitted," Police Sergeant Ernie Silagyi said.

Caught in a lie, Nava came clean about fabricating the whole story. He confessed that he had sent the e-mail threats to himself, other students and an outspoken professor. And the bashing? It was self-inflicted. [more]

He pulled a similar stunt while in prep school. But why? It may be some time before we really know what is going through his mind, but it's more than likely he was simply trying to discredit his detractors.

"I'm stunned, I'm disappointed, and I'm deeply concerned about Francisco and what this means about him," said Sherif Girgis, a Princeton senior and one of the students who received the e-mail death threats.

Nava had been raised a devout Roman Catholic, but recently converted to Mormonism. He wrote in "Teen Spirit: One World, Many Paths," a book about young people and their spiritual growth, that his family accepted the change. "They all agree that my words are cleaner, my disposition is calmer, and that my love for God is greater."

His family might feel a little differently now...