Students at Valparaiso University campaign against Chick-fil-A on campus

"We are not attacking Christianity, the quality of the food, or the CEO's personal beliefs. This seems to be a common misconception," said Selena Schraven, a freshman from Hammond, who helped start an online petition on Change.org with other members of Alliance to raise awareness about the issue. Alliance is the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) group on campus.

Though Chick-fil-A has backed off in recent years on how much it gives to organizations that could be perceived as anti-gay, Schraven and others said that's still recent history. The company's president, Dan Cathy, also was widely quoted a few years ago making comments against same-sex marriage. 

According to articles on http://www.forbes.com, WinShape Foundation, Chick-fil-A's non-profit arm, has made millions of dollars in donations to anti-gay marriage groups including the Family Research Council and the Marriage and Family Foundation.

Cathy's comments against same-sex marriage became widely known in 2012, according to Forbes. Numerous news agencies, including ABC and NBC, reported in September 2012 that Chick-fil-A officials announced they would stop funding anti-gay organizations.

Schraven said via email that students, faculty and staff have had two meetings with representatives from the university's food service department and Chick-fil-A and, after another meeting between dining services and student and faculty representatives, "were told that no contracts have been signed, but Chick-fil-A is the focus and only option we are being given at this point."

Neither Anthony Coschignano, the university's executive director of auxiliary services, which includes dining services, nor officials with Chick-fil-A, responded to requests for comment.

The university would only say that the chain is being considered. 

"Valparaiso University is considering a variety of possible food franchises to be located in retail space in the Promenade, directly north of the University, to offer dining options that would be in high demand for both students and the greater community. Among the franchises under consideration is Chick-fil-A," said Nicole Niemi, the university's senior director of public affairs, in a prepared statement.

Schraven, noting that the online petition is being supported by people across the globe who have been affiliated with VU, said the main concern is how the image and reputation of Chick-fil-A with regards to discrimination will negatively reflect on the university and its efforts to "build a diverse and inclusive environment here on campus."

"We do recognize and respect that Chick-fil-A may be attempting to correct the situation, but without a longstanding track record of good practices, it is too soon," she said, adding students' prepaid meal plan dollars would be supporting the restaurant whether they eat there or not.

The issue, particularly for a Lutheran university, isn't about Chick-fil-A's religious affiliation, said assistant professor of art Liz Wuerffel, but rather the chain's stand on gay rights.