Isn’t this kind of the whole point of belonging to a group like the College Republicans? The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has gotten involved in this case.
From the FIRE blog:
Washington & Lee to College Republicans: Stop advocating for candidate Glenn Youngkin in tight Virginia governor raceThe College Republicans at Washington & Lee University were caught red-handed. Their transgression? Advocating for a political candidate.Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education again calls on the university — which didn’t think its students’ rights were important enough to respond when FIRE first raised the issue privately — to immediately clarify that it will allow student groups to openly support political candidates.“I was shocked when I found out that we couldn’t disseminate campaign materials on campus,” said College Republicans President Lillian Gillespie. “I hope that publicizing this story gives students on both sides of the aisle more agency and liberty.”On Sept. 12, the W&L College Republicans set up its booth for the college’s annual activities fair. Given that Virginia’s elections are fast approaching on Nov. 2, the group displayed campaign materials in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin.During the fair, Director of Student Activities Kelsey Goodwin told the group that the display violated university policy and the College Republicans had to remove all materials endorsing political candidates. Goodwin cited the fact that W&L is a tax-exempt organization that cannot endorse political figures.That’s true. W&L itself cannot endorse candidates. But its students can.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY