Eckerd College: Student Government Denies College Republicans Recognition Based on Their President’s Social Media Posts

In February 2022, Eckerd College student Tony Salvatori applied for recognition for an Eckerd College Republicans campus chapter. On March 2, when Salvatori met with the student government to discuss the pending application, student senators said they had “problems” with posts on his personal Instagram account and refused to grant recognition. On May 12, FIRE wrote EC explaining that because EC promises students expressive rights commensurate with the First Amendment, the student government may not deny recognition to a student club in this way based on viewpoint. One day after FIRE sent our letter, the EC student senate recognized the College Republicans chapter, and on May 25, EC confirmed to FIRE the group’s recognition.