Young America’s Foundation Wins Free Speech Victory at Aeronautics University
The conservative activist group Young America’s Foundation (YAF) won a free speech victory over Embry-Riddle Aeronautics University (ERAU). The university had repeatedly shut down efforts by the school to host campus activities, including a “Where Does Life Begin” prolife event, a “Stand with Israel” day on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and a “9/11: Never Forget” memorial.
YAF Chief Communications Officer posted on X that ERAU supported Transgender Day of Remembrance, but the university wouldn’t allow detransitioner Chloe Cole on campus to share a different viewpoint on transgenderism.
Benjamin Isbell, chairman of the YAF chapter at Embry-Riddle, told his story in an article, “My ‘Conservative’ School Shut Down My YAF Events. I Fought Back and Won.”
Isbell described why he choose ERAU, which is located in Prescott, Arizona, “As a veteran, I was attracted to the school because of the perceived conservative atmosphere on campus.”
But when he began heading up the YAF chapter, he found “the school was anything but conservative.”
He then explained that the school turned against freedom of speech on campus:
After meeting with then Interim Chancellor Dr. Ken Witcher, Isbell said, “In the end, I was told essentially, ‘If you don’t like our policies, get a lawyer.'”
So he did.
YAF filed a discrimination complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The complaint lists the other conservative events and activism blocked by ERAU:
- A “Biology Basics activism project” intended to counter the lie at the heart of transgenderism.
- Handing out flyers to promote a speech by truth-teller, detransitioner, and transgender surgery opponent Chloe Cole.
- A “Funeral for Halloween” activism project lampooning “politically correct” restrictions on costumes that commit “cultural appropriation.”
- A “Where Does Life Begin?” project showing the various stages of fetal development to expose students to the reality of life in the womb.
Amongst a list of allegations, the complaint asked the OCR to investigate the school for violating presidential executive orders to end illegal discrimination in federally-funded schools, saying “ERAU prioritizes so-called secular speech and discriminates against religious students.”
The complaint also said, “ERAU’s counseling services recognize and push transgender ideology, including by recognizing sex-based distinctions that are not legitimate under law.” YAF said this violates Title IX, a recent Dear Colleague letter from the OCR, and various presidential executive orders.
Isbell said the school finally responded when faced with the complaint, “Less than a week after filing our complaint, ERAU mysteriously changed its mind and approved Chloe Cole to speak on campus.”
YAF posted the victory on X, with a video of Isbell asking Cole a question about the series of events at the university. Cole said, “Our universities used to be grounds for free speech … By barring people like me from speaking on your campuses, you are choosing to ignore the truth.”
It’s discriminatory for schools to treat conservative or religious groups differently from others. Thankfully, groups are pushing back against this disparate treatment. We’ll see if ERAU has learned its lesson and completely changes its unfair policies.
Related articles and resources:
Department of Education: Schools Embracing DEI Will Lose Funding
Female Law Students Punished for Objecting to Men in Women’s Restrooms, File Lawsuit
Harvard Protects Free Speech of Antisemites But Not Those Who Believe the Truth of Male and Female
Is David French Right — Is Our Religious Liberty Secure?
Student Asks Court to Uphold Right to Wear ‘There are Only Two Genders’ Shirt
Teacher Wrongly Fired for Refusing to Use ‘Preferred Pronouns’ Wins $575,000
University of Iowa Caught Discriminating Against Faith-Based Student Clubs For the Second Time
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