I would absolutely say some Cru chapters are cults. I say this because I experienced a very toxic leadership change while a leader in the group.

Started going my freshman year of college after a friend I had made during my late high school years kept inviting me. At the time, the organization was student run with some help from a highly regarded seminary. The group was extremely loving and non-judgmental, there was pretty good messages in their one meeting a week: solid non-denom theology, encouraged us to read for ourselves and make up our own mind, would answer questions relatively straightforwardly (if that's a word?). Overall loved the group and became a bible study leader. However that changed when Cru sent the new leaders in.

Soon after the new leaders came in, it was obvious that they didn't want to deal with any conflicting viewpoints. If you didn't agree with what they had to say or asked any "hard" questions, then you obviously were not a strong Christian/had a sin issue/shouldn't be in leadership (choose whichever you want, they had no rhyme or reason either). I, along with 15 of the 18 upperclassmen in the group, quit going to group meetings and stopped attending leadership meetings because we couldn't deal with their attempt at indoctrination. Those who stayed did to help the underclassmen and undo the damage the new leaders were causing.

When I left for all intents and purposes, I told them I was busy. I ended up joining a fraternity along with a guy from my bible study. The group is getting back on its feet after firing those leaders and giving power back to the students with help from the seminary students. However, the stories I have heard only perpetuate my ideas that Cru is absolutely a cult.

Sorry for the rant, was kind of running with ideas I have had since that happened. Still a Christian, but not nearly as strong of one since that, and I question most things that church leaders of any sort preach these days.