WASHINGTON, DC — Should a student council candidate be canceled if she attends a conservative organization’s events? The editorial board of Georgetown University’s student newspaper thinks so.

Recently, The Hoya, Georgetown’s student newspaper, rescinded its endorsement of a student running for student government because of her affiliation with the Network of enlightened Women, known as NeW. They were made aware that she had attended two social events hosted by the NeW chapter on campus.

The Hoya’s action sends the message that students will be penalized for associating with a conservative group on campus. And their pressuring worked. The candidate disassociated herself from NeW.

“Conservative women should be heard on campus and not silenced for presenting a different perspective,” commented Karin Lips, President of NeW. “Unfortunately, some of our colleges and universities are fostering a silencing culture when they should be encouraging intellectual diversity. Pressuring conservatives not to associate with conservative groups will harm students in the long run. When conservative groups are cancelled, liberal students suffer from a lack of intellectual diversity on campus and conservative students lose out on professional connections.” 

For media interested in talking to NeW leaders at Georgetown University, please contact Franchetta Groves at media@enlightenedwomen.org or 717-706-0913.

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The Network of Enlightened Women educates, equips, and empowers women to be principled leaders for a free society.