College Republicans Split After 1 Maryland Campus Hosted White Advocate Jared Taylor
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 19
College Republicans Split After 1 Maryland Campus Hosted White Advocate Jared Taylor
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 19
A Jared Taylor appearance at Salisbury University last month exposed a sharp divide among college Republicans over whether to distance themselves from or embrace the far right.
Maryland’s statewide college Republican group welcomed Taylor, who describes himself as a “white advocate” and warned at the event that white people face extinction.
University of Maryland chapter leaders said the association damaged their organization, with finance chair Blake Ruszala saying members no longer wanted to affiliate with the group.
The Maryland dispute reflects a broader national fight as campus Republican groups at Harvard, Georgetown, Illinois and Florida have faced scrutiny over racist speakers, rhetoric or social media posts.
That tension has intensified as the fast-growing College Republicans of America recently picked Kai Schwemmer as political director despite his past ties to white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Why do some campus groups risk backlash to host controversial speakers?
Are social media algorithms reshaping student political organizations?
How can universities balance free speech with campus safety and inclusion?