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Free speech group calls on school ‘to ensure only viewpoint neutral criteria are used’
The Whitman College Republican club will not reapply for official recognition from the student government this semester following the student group’s rejection earlier this year, according to free speech group the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
FIRE attorney Marie McMullan told The College Fix the group’s decision not to reapply demonstrates how the recognition process can discourage students from participating in campus discussions.
“Whitman College should ensure the [Associated Students of Whitman College] respects the college’s promises to free expression,” McMullan said. “We call on ASWC and Whitman College to ensure only viewpoint neutral criteria are used in the future to grant clubs affiliation status.”
The College Fix reached out to Whiteman College, ASWC and the Republican Club twice via email for more information on the case. None responded.
However, Whitman President Sarah Bolton told Northwest Public Broadcasting, that the school’s “administration supports all student clubs that follow our basic requirements, and approved the Whitman Republican Club as a registered student organization last year.”
“ASWC affiliation is a separate thing, and is managed by the ASWC (student government) itself,” she said.
Student government affiliation can provide student organizations with benefits such as funding opportunities, institutional support and access to campus resources. Other groups on campus, including the Climate Justice Coalition and Planned Parenthood Generation Action, have these benefits.
The Associated Students of Whitman College Senate voted 25-0 earlier this year to deny the club’s application. Senators questioned club representatives about their political views, the Republican Party platform, and President Donald Trump before voting against recognition, according to FIRE.
One senator reportedly suggested that the group remove “Republican” from the name and form a debate club instead.
“You can name yourselves whatever you want, but the language of your constitution is in direct contrast to our own constitution. I would suggest that you scrub the title and make a debate club,” the senator said.
FIRE has argued that the questions raised during the meeting suggest the decision was influenced by the club’s political viewpoint rather than neutral eligibility requirements.
McMullan said the incident could affect students beyond those directly involved in the club because it limits opportunities for students to engage with differing political perspectives.
“At Whitman, the Republican club isn’t the only one losing out now that it lacks official status and won’t reapply,” McMullan wrote in a blog post. “Every student who might have tested their beliefs against the club’s has lost that chance too.”
She argued that allowing student organizations to express different viewpoints is important to a college environment where students can discuss and challenge ideas. McMullan also compared the situation to earlier efforts by liberal and LGBTQ+ groups to secure freedom of association.
How can students pursue their passions and interests “if their own student senate, with no interference from the college, paternalistically insulates them from ideas with which they may disagree,” McMullan wrote.
“And what would have become of the liberal and LGBT groups that fought for freedom of association in the 20th century if the chill had frozen them, too?” she wrote.
The controversy also reflects broader concerns about the treatment of the Republican clubs on college campuses.
According to McMullan, FIRE’s Students Under Fire database contains 70 entries involving Republican clubs since 2020. Ten of those entries involve student governments.
McMullan said Republicans are among the student groups most frequently targeted in the cases documented by the organization. The database includes reported incidents involving student expression and campus organizations.
The club’s decision not to reapply means the dispute will not proceed through another affiliation application at this time. However, FIRE continues to call on the college and student government to review how recognition decisions are made.
