by Rachel Lalgie
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University rescinded its agreement to host a College Republicans United convention “after doing research” on the group.
Richard Thomas, founder of the group, told The College Fix that the event was to be located at the university’s “Lower Hangar” at its Prescott, Arizona campus for three hours and cost a total of $630.00 for media, support and cleanup.
College Republicans United is separate from the national College Republican National Committee, although it supports many conservative positions, such as restricting immigration, taking on Big Tech censorship and the Second Amendment.
The venue for the July 30 event would have been paid for by the Institute for Western Thought on behalf of the Republican group.
However, the university backed out of hosting the group. Thomas said he initially spoke to administrator Pam Passmore on May 24 without any issue, but after advertising the event, the group “received an email from Pam saying they were unable to accommodate [their] request with no further explanation.”
The university deferred to its attorney, Charlies Sevastas.
“According to him, they decided ‘not to do business with our group after doing research’
and would not elaborate further,” Thomas told The Fix. “I asked him if he was aware of the Transgender events on campus, he said no. I asked him if he was familiar with Albert Winn who sits on the National Council who would vouch for our group, he said no.”
Albert Winn is on the Dean’s Advisory Board at Embry Riddle’s College of Engineering.
The Fix reached out to Everly Chadwick, a spokeswoman for the Arizona campus on June 19 to ask for comment on Thomas’ sequence of events. Chadwick told The Fix that she would research it and then provide a response.
A different media relations representative ended up responding after Chadwick was out of office due to a family emergency.
“Embry-Riddle will not have any comment on this issue,” Vice President of Communications Ginger Pinholster told The Fix. “I’m sorry we can’t help this time.”
Republicans United will now be hosting at the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott.
The event plans on having guest speakers, including former Arizona politicians. Liz Harris and John Fillmore.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is also involved with the event. Another speaker is Jacob Chansley, famously known for wearing a horn hat and entering the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
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College Fix contributor Rachel Lalgie is a student at the University of Florida, studying accounting and economics. She is a member of UF’s Phi Eta Sigma and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
