UPDATE Nov. 17:

The response from ISU administrators can be found here. It is disappoinng, to say theleast.

--------------------------------------Note: This leer refects the individual opinions o those that signed. It does not necessarily represent the posion o Iowa State University, its employees or students. Some signatories have chosen to include their job tles to demonstrate their relaonship to the university, but their signatures do not speak or the units o which they are a part.

November 12, 2020An Open Leer to Iowa State University AdministratorsTo: Oce of the Senior Vice President and Provost, Oce of Diversity & Inclusion, Dean of Students Oce, Student Aairs, University Counsel Dear ISU Administrators, We are appalled that the Iowa State University administraon has decided it will not invoke disciplinary acon on a student organizaon, the Iowa State University College Republicans (@IStateCRs), for a tweet that, having nothing to do with the polical nature of the organizaon, incites violence and creates a campus climate that feels threatening to and isolates students, faculty, and sta of marginalized and historically oppressed populaons. Privileging the free speech of those causing harm over the safety of the historically marginalized members of our community furthers the damage and sends the message that the Iowa State University community does not value their presence, despite numerous condemnaons in recent months of this exact kind of behavior. It is clear that the administraon’s statements during a summer that served as a referendum on racism in this country, were merely symbolic and they now serve as further evidence of its history of denouncing some harmful behaviors, only to abdicate themselves of responsibility when given the opportunity to show their commitment through acon. The Iowa State University College Republicans’ tweet dated November 7, 2020 states, “Everyone, you must arm up, expect these people to aempt to destroy your life, the elites want revenge on us.” On its own, the tweet is cause for alarm due to its implied threat of violence. Marginalized students, faculty and sta also have cause to be alarmed when tweets like this are made on a campus where there have

 

recently been numerous racists threats and acts, and in a city with nearby hate groups whose members may be standing in wait for such calls to acon.When considered in the context of other tweets on the College Republicans’ Twier feed—which include tweets and retweets using derogatory language toward undocumented immigrants, racist calls to deport naturalized immigrants of color, calling members of the LGBTQ community mentally ill, and more—it is clear that marginalized populaons on the Iowa State University Campus and in the Ames community have reason to feel threatened by this harmful, incendiary rhetoric that culminated in the tweet from November 7 to “arm up.” The aforemenoned derogatory tweets are not linked or quoted directly in this document because they may cause harm due to the language used; however, as of the date of this leer, all of the tweets referenced in this document are sll published and available for viewing. Rather than send an emphac and undeniable message that Iowa State University is commied to anracism and upholding its Principles of Community and Student Code of Conduct, the administraon instead chose to reassure the College Republicans that they will not face disciplinary acon for their behavior, even aer the Iowa Federaon of College Republicans stripped the ISU chapter of its aliaon. Tweets made by a university aliated student organizaon are not protected speech if they violate university policy. In choosing to be a student at Iowa State University and speaking as an aliated student organizaon, the College Republicans have agreed to conduct themselves according tothose policies. The administraon has made a choice to disregard its own regulaons on this maer. Importantly, the Iowa State University administraon’s handling of this situaon is a perfect example of how inequitable systems are sustained. Dismantling such instuons require systemic change in the form of resources and policies aimed at eliminang the problemac status quo, and when oensive violaons occur, the courage to take acon that loudly proclaims, “Not on this campus!” To do so would ensure the safety of students, sta, and faculty from underrepresented populaons, as well as others in the larger campus community. Yet, perhaps out of fear of ligaon, the Iowa State University administraon has essenally told the people who feel unsafe on campus as a result of the College Republicans’ tweets that they do not maer. That message is aecng the current campus climate, and can have a signicant impact on the retenon and recruitment of students, sta, and faculty from underrepresented groups. Plainly, it sends a clear message that they will not be protected on campus should they decide to aend or accept employment at Iowa State University. Signicantly, the Iowa State University administraon sll has the opportunity to illustrate its commitment to anracism, the struggle against social injusces, and to culvang a campus on which everyone feels welcome, safe, and valued. In response to the College Republicans’ incendiary tweet on November 7, we call on the Iowa State University administraon to take the following acons:1.Following the decision by the Iowa Federaon of College Republicans to defederate the Iowa State University chapter for violang the principles of the organizaon, we call for immediate disciplinary acon against this student organizaon for violang the Iowa State University Principles of Community, the Student Code of Conduct (5.2, 5.7, 5.9, 5.10, 5.28), and the Student Organizaon Recognion policy in the form of removal of recognion as an ocial

 

student organizaon unl the last remaining current student member from the roster has graduated from the University.2.We call for an amendment to the Student Code of Conduct specically addressing how the instuon responds to speech by students and student organizaons that promote hate, directly or indirectly threaten the physical safety and free movement of members of the campuscommunity, potenally incite violence, or violates the Principles of Community.3.We demand Iowa State University demonstrate its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its goal of educang students on these very important issues by issuing a charge to the Provost to begin working with academic units on campus to increase the University-wide U.S. diversity requirement and review the approved courses to ensure the course content is centered on diversity issues. Should the University choose not to discipline the ISU chapter of College Republicans, we demand that the administraon provide a clear, direct response to this event in which they explain to the campus community the raonale for its inacon. Further, we ask that the administraon explain its decision not to provide an immediate statement addressing those who felt and connue to feel threatened by the organizaon’s escalaon of harmful rhetoric, and why the instuon will connue to provide a plaorm to an organizaon that regularly and agrantly promotes hate speech. The acons listed above are only the beginning of the commitment we demand of Iowa State University to demonstrate its previously stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as stated in Goal 4 of the Strategic Plan. Beyond taking acon on this incident, the University and its leadership must prove its commitment to changing our campus culture by showing over me and through acon and enforcement of policies rather than hollow promises in the form of convenient denunciaons of hateful rhetoric. Signed, Kelly Winfrey, Assistant professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and CommunicaonNovotny Lawrence, Associate professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communicaon and the English DepartmentLindsay Moeller, Graduate student, Greenlee School of Journalism and CommunicaonJulian Neely, Graduate student, Greenlee School of Journalism and CommunicaonKelsie Poe, Academic adviser, Greenlee School of Journalism and CommunicaonDai’Tynn Coppage-Walker, Undergraduate student, Greenlee School of Journalism and CommunicaonBreton Clark, Markeng & Adversing StudentJennifer Nieland, LAS IT South