University of Florida College Republicans chapter sues over being shut down on antisemitism claims | Fortune

"The University of Florida punitively deactivated and shut down the UFCR, in response to alleged viewpoints expressed by a member of UFCR, and in an effort to silence the club and chill its future speech. The deactivation wasn't based on any university policy or rule, and it was only based on a member's expression of a viewpoint which was alleged to be antisemitic."

"Officials at the University of Florida said over the weekend that they had been informed by the Florida Federation of College Republicans that the federation had disbanded the Gainesville campus' chapter after determining that some members had engaged in a pattern of conduct that violated its rules and values, including a recent antisemitic gesture."

"The university also didn't provide the College Republicans with adequate notice and didn't give the chapter an opportunity to explain its side of the story, according to the lawsuit. When the Florida Federation of College Republicans is ready, the university will assist with reactivating the campus chapter under new student leadership."

The University of Florida College Republicans filed a federal lawsuit against interim president Donald Landry seeking to restore their deactivated chapter and campus facility access. The university deactivated the chapter after the Florida Federation of College Republicans reported that members engaged in antisemitic conduct violating federation rules and values. The College Republicans argue the deactivation was punitive retaliation for alleged viewpoints and violated free speech protections. They contend the university provided inadequate notice and denied the chapter opportunity to respond. University officials stated they will assist with reactivating the chapter under new leadership when the federation is ready. The lawsuit claims the deactivation violated no university policy and targeted only alleged antisemitic expression.

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