When members of the Whitman Republican Club sought recognition as a college-affiliated student organization, they had every reason to expect the same review process as any other group. After all, Whitman College explicitly promises every student freedom of expression and association.
Instead, the student senate spent its time grilling club representatives about the Republican Party platform and prodding them to criticize the national political party. Senators then unanimously rejected their application in a vote of 25-0.
At the end of the discussion, one senator made their objection clear: “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.”
This is blatant viewpoint discrimination.
For student organizations, college affiliation is the gateway to requesting funding, hosting events, and legitimacy — benefits enjoyed by dozens of other groups at Whitman, including other ideological organizations like Climate Justice Coalition and Planned Parenthood Generation Action.
To so plainly deny the group’s application because of their political association is a glaring violation of free expression.
As an elected body, the student senate is beholden to uphold those same principles. When the WRC applies for affiliation next time, Whitman College must ensure that the club recognition process is fair. And if the senate again fails to use viewpoint-neutral criteria, Whitman must intervene and grant WRC’s affiliation.
Tell Whitman: It must uphold its promise to protect students’ freedom of expression and association.
