Hunter
04/10/23
Five student organizations at the University of Iowa are calling for the suspension of the Iowa Young Americans for Freedom because of their alleged creation of an unwelcoming environment on campus for trans students.
The Daily Iowan reports that the newly elected chair of UI College Republicans, Samuel Haack, used an offensive slur toward transgender people in a leaked Iowa Young Americans for Freedom group chat that was posted on flyers in downtown Iowa City by an unknown person.
Vice Chair for Iowa Young Americans for Freedom, John Piaszynski wrote in the group chat that the organization shouldn’t use the word, noting that their conversations had been leaked in the past.
The student paper reports University Democrats at Iowa President Nikša Poleksić said Piaszynski’s handling of the offensive language didn’t directly condemn it. He said the increase of anti-transgender rhetoric coming from the Iowa Legislature and conservative groups on campus has led to a normalization of hatred toward the transgender community.
Iowa Young Americans for Freedom is hosting Matt Walsh on campus later this month with the University of Iowa’s approval. Walsh is a conservative and anti-trans commentator, and the booking has caused controversy on campus. Piaszynski said the group has received backlash, including threats.
The University Democrats at Iowa, Young Democratic Socialists at Iowa Steering Committee, Ignite UI, Student Advocates for Planned Parenthood UI, and the Environmental Coalition at Iowa issued a statement Friday night, calling for the UI to suspend Iowa Young Americans for Freedom and address the harmful rhetoric being expressed by conservative groups on campus.