The University of Florida has unilaterally banned TPUSA and other conservative groups from campus for “violating the school’s COVID-19 policies,” after the groups hosted an event known as the Conservative Coalition Cookout.  

The school claimed the mask policy had been violated by all in attendance on a public field, which they also claimed had not been properly reserved for an event. The Chapter President of TPUSA at UF has already attempted to appeal the brazen and rash decision to ban all conservative groups on campus, which was quickly rejected by the university’s administration.

Although masks are not required in the state of Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, they are required on campus at UF–a policy that was communicated to students attending the Conservative Coalition Cookout. People complied by wearing masks unless they were eating or drinking, as is consistent with local, state, and federal guidelines for COVID-19.

The decision to ban all conservative organizations on campus for choosing to gather (while the vast majority of those in attendance did follow the school’s COVID-19 guidelines) is nothing short of a blatant violation of our country’s First Amendment rights to speech and assembly. We have arrived at a time where any ideological differences on campus are not only chastised but banned from the university learning environment altogether.

The University of Florida has just proven itself to be a place that does not value education or even true diversity (which includes the diversity of thought). They value ideological lockstep centered on leftism, which should concern students of all political backgrounds.

To our TPUSA students at UF and every other conservative student on this campus–we stand with you. You are not alone in your fight to be heard in higher education and in our society. The world has slandered conservatism as hateful, racist, and now anti-science–but you know the truth. You are strong, courageous, and intelligent. You are fighting this culture war that will determine our future as a society for generations to come.

This fight against your campus’ administration is just beginning, and we will be with you every step of the way.