12/14/2023
Today, the Daily Signal released a report documenting violations of civil rights towards members of Butler University's chapter of the Indiana Federation of College Republicans. The university began an investigation into their student organization for releasing a statement denouncing antisemitic chants by pro Palestinian protestors at a rally in downtown Indianapolis.
Here is a statement from our Chairman:
"Today, journalist and education advocate Tony Kinnett released documented evidence of a breach of federal civil rights afforded to student members of the Butler University College Republicans club, an affiliated chapter of the Indiana Federation of College Republicans.
An investigation into the Butler College Republicans, led by the Title IX coordinator at Butler University, was initiated following the publication of a statement by the organization denouncing pro-Palestinian protestors in Indianapolis. Protestors had been chanting antisemitic phrases, at least one of which describing the October 7th massacre in Israel as “not a crime.” A student advocacy group for Palestine complained about the Butler College Republicans’ statement, prompting the university to begin a coordinated, illegitimate, attack on Butler College Republicans’ civil rights. The University, before starting the investigation, issued a directive to the College Republicans to take down their previously issued statement, a violation of their right to free speech, and an indication that the “investigation” was pre-determined from the outset. Furthermore, their now five week investigation did not afford the leadership of the organization any of the rights to information that such an investigation requires, despite numerous efforts by the chapter’s leadership to receive updates.
The Indiana Federation of College Republicans stands by, and wholeheartedly supports, the actions of the Butler College Republicans. It is clear from the evidence that no part of the statement that the club issued was incorrect, or mischaracterizing. Further, it is our responsibility to denounce antisemitism in our communities, just as the chapter did.
In a national environment where the spread of antisemitism is rampant, and spreading through our higher education institutions, we have witnessed an insufficient response from universities across the country. The responses given in a House hearing recently by the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT regarding whether or not calls for Jewish genocide were considered hate speech, is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Today, we are discovering the same problems are also prevalent at Butler University.
Today’s reporting reflects not only a spread of antisemitism, but the first known partisan manifestation of this controversy, interrupting the operations and the rights of the members of the Butler University College Republicans. When bureaucratic university demagogues can erase the civil rights of those they disagree with, one wonders how these lessons will be reflected in the next generation of leaders.
Our organization stands with the plight of the Jewish people, the sentiments expressed in the Butler University College Republican statement, and the civil rights of all college students, regardless of where they are placed on the political spectrum. Civil Rights are human rights that are inherent, not gifted by university bureaucrats. We look forward to an apology from Butler University, and to the termination of this political witch hunt."
For more details on the story, you can find them here:
Butler University is investigating College Republicans for condemning antisemitic chants at a student organization-led rally.
