Brandeis University, founded by the Jewish community in 1948 partly as a response to Jewish quotas at Ivy League schools, is considering combining its two Christian chapels to make room for a mosque.

The renovation was discussed at a board of trustees meeting last month and then reported in a story in the student newspaper, The Justice, prompting concern among Christians on campus.

While a university spokesman denies that a merger of Catholic and Protestant chapels is in the works, some students and faculty wonder. ”I like to think that it is more of a rumor,“ said Chris Farrell, a Brandeis junior and the Catholic chapel’s sacristan. ”At Brandeis, they do have a tendency for making decisions without consulting students,” said Farrell. ”With something that big, they will have to talk about it with students.“

University chaplains confirmed the renovation was under debate.

”It is something Brandeis is considering,” said Rabbi Allan Lehmann. ”It would be a long-term project. All decisions and actions are not likely for several years yet.“

”Space is at a real, real premium at Brandeis University,” said Dennis Nealon, a university spokesman, acknowledging that the Muslim worship space is not ideal. But he said a merger of the Christian chapels was news to him. ”I would’ve heard of that if it were anywhere close to reality,“ Nealon said. …

The Rev. Walter H. Cuenin, the university’s Catholic chaplain, said many other universities have already followed a nondenominational model, citing MIT and Boston University’s chapels. ”I’m quite open to pursuing the conversation — making it happen in a way that works for both communities,” Cuenin said.