Young America’s Foundation (YAF) is a conservative student organization with chapters all over the country. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Florida, the YAF chapter is trying to bring Colonel Allen West to campus for a speaking engagement, but members of the administration are playing games with paperwork, in an obvious effort to stall the event.
This sort of thing happens all the time, and it’s always on the same side. Left-wing student groups almost never run into these kinds of problems, no matter how radical their guest speakers are.
Townhall reports:
Former Congressman and Retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West Was Barred From Speaking on College CampusLeft-wing extremism and censorship are major problems on college campuses, with everyone from students to professors to administrators holding to one ideology and doing everything in their power to make conservatives — and conservative ideals — unwelcome on campus. At Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida, this extremism led to school officials blocking former Florida Congressman and retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West from speaking on campus.Students with Young America’s Foundation (YAF) sought to host Lt. Col. West for an event promoting conservative values, and despite trying to follow the university’s procedures, members of YAF say administrators restricted the event without providing a clear explanation.In emails shared with Townhall, Negar Afshar, the Director of Student Organizations and Engagement, communicated with Matthew Finkel, the Chairman of the Embry-Riddle chapter of YAF. The first message, from Afshar dated Tuesday, October 6, was a “friendly reminder” that YAF had agreed to meet with Afshar regularly, “as well as discussing any event or speaker ideas in advance so we can approve and renew them together.” Afshar then informed Finkle that he received a Speaker Request form.”We need to discuss that before anything can move forward,” Afshar wrote. “Please select a time on my calendar as soon as possible so we can reconnect and review your plans.”Finkle responded on October 8, explaining he reviewed ERAU YAF chapter bylaws and cited multiple events YAF held — like the 9/11 Never Forget Project — that were approved through “proper SchedulER requests and approvals.”
West addressed this situation in a recent post on Twitter/X, noting the double standard for the left:
I am one of the conservative speakers for @yaf that travels to college and university campuses in support of the student chapters.I am scheduled to speak at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. I was just informed that the administration has denied the students’ request to host me for the speaking engagement.I ran into this same issue with the ERAU campus in Prescott, Arizona.Funny, Marxist influencer Hasan Piker just spoke at the University of Texas . . . the fella who said America deserved 911. Yet a retired Army officer and former member of Congress, from Florida, is denied the opportunity to address conservative students?
My advice to these students is to get in touch with the office of Governor Ron DeSantis immediately.
I have a feeling this problem would be resolved rather quickly.
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