Gainesville, United States. The Florida Federation of College Republicans disbanded its University of Florida chapter and asked the university to remove it as a student organization over alleged misconduct that includes antisemitism, the university said on Saturday.
Federation investigation and deactivation request
The university said the request was based on the federation’s own investigation, which found a “pattern of conduct that violated its rules and values, including a recent antisemitic gesture,” according to a university post on X. The federation asked the school to deactivate its Republican chapter while the group attempts to restart it with new leadership, the university said.
University response
The university said it is “committed to preventing and addressing antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment” that threaten and disrupt the school community. It added that it will help the federation reactivate its local chapter when it is reformed.
No immediate comment from federation
The Florida Federation of College Republicans did not immediately return a request for comment.
Second report in Florida involving alleged antisemitic behavior
The announcement is the second report this month of antisemitic behavior by a conservative group at a Florida school. Florida International University said on March 5 that law enforcement is investigating a Miami Herald report that prominent members of the local Republican Party and conservative student leaders exchanged racist, antisemitic and homophobic messages in an online group chat.
The Miami Herald reported that logs of the leaked WhatsApp group chat showed participants including prominent local Republican Party officials and student leaders of FIU’s Turning Point USA chapter, described as a conservative youth group founded by slain activist Charlie Kirk.
What steps should universities take when student organizations are accused of antisemitism or other discriminatory conduct?