Young America's Foundation

Azusa Pacific University Blocks YAF Chapter (UPDATE)

10/5/2012 7:36:56 PM Posted by Patrick Coyle

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Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, California) has blocked students from forming a Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter, which is a project of Young America's Foundation. Administrators said they are banning the group because they disagree with principles stated on YAF's national website (www.yaf.org).

Ashley Blackwell, the would-be chair of the chapter, is currently the chair of a generic conservative club at APU and wants to formally affiliate with YAF. Ashley and other key members of her club have attended a number of Foundation conferences both in Washington, D.C., and at the Reagan Ranch, which Young America's Foundation has owned and preserved since 1998.

In a conversation with Foundation Vice President Patrick Coyle, Chuck Strawn, executive director of "communiversity" at Azusa said that he and other administrators disagree with language used on the Foundation's website, and therefore Blackwell and her fellow students couldn't be affiliated with YAF. Strawn admitted that their decision was based on his and other's opinions and not on the school's written policy.

Strawn told Blackwell and YAF that he was particularly bothered by the following language on Young America's Foundation's website:

Are you tired of liberal ideas dominating your campus? Are you tired of liberal and Marxist professors indoctrinating your classmates? Do you want to advance conservatism?

If you answered yes, then you should start a Young Americans for Freedom chapter. YAF chapters make a difference by boldly advancing freedom and conservatism. Radical feminists, big government bureaucrats, fringe environmentalists, race-baiters, Islamo-fascists, and run of the mill leftists are distraught that you would even think about promoting conservative ideas.

Ashley Blackwell noted, "It is really disappointing that a school, which promotes diversity and uses the mantra 'everyone matters,' would ban an existing club from changing its name. It is even more frustrating that this censorship isn't even due to school rules or policy. It is the result of a few administrators' personal opinions. They just don't agree with language on YAF's website about college's having liberal professors. I guess the truth hurts."

Patrick Coyle, vice president of Young America's Foundation and executive director of YAF, said, "Conservative students are treated like second-class citizens on liberal campuses like Azusa Pacific University. These campuses love "diversity" and "inclusion"-except when it comes to conservative ideas and values. Proposed campus groups should be beholden to the same standards and rules not the intolerant opinions and whims of a few administrators. YAF will keep pressuring APU until this unfair decision is overturned."

UPDATE: Breitbart.com has posted on this story and Fox News has also picked up on APU's efforts to keep YAF off campus.

Readers' Comments
As an Azusa Pacific alum, this is sad news. In the past, when I attended APU, the Heritage Foundation and
Posted by Bryan R. on 10/06/2012
...other conservative groups, as well as liberal organizations were welcome. Sadly political correctness has destroyed free speech.
Posted by Bryan R. on 10/06/2012
I am very disappointed in YAF's reaction to the decision by Azusa Pacific. Patrick Coyle obviously has no familiarity with APU. If he had done even a little homework, he would realize how absurd it is to label APU a liberal campus that is hostile to conservatives. APU is an evangelical Christian university with a reputation for academic excellence. It's students, faculty and administration are not only respectful of traditional values, they live them and give witness to them every day. If YAF wants to use language on their website which states that their chapters are designed for campuses that have Marxist professors who indoctrinate students, they should not be surprised when administrators at conservative colleges are offended by that characterization, and refuse to insult their faculty by formally endorsing it. I am also disappointed that YAF feels that PRIVATE colleges have some sort of legal or moral obligation to formally acknowledge a club just because some students happen to think it is a good idea. I certainly hope that YAF would support APU's right to refuse to accept a student club that violated the university's religious principles - but to do that, YAF also has to accept the broader principle that a university has the right to decide which clubs it finds unacceptable, even conservative ones like YAF. In my opinion, YAF should spend less effort trying to intimidate private colleges into accepting YAF, and more time educating students about the more fundamental conservative principle that all private colleges, liberal or conservative, have the First Amendment right to decide which organizations that they choose to affiliate with.
Posted by Jim B on 10/06/2012
Jim, do you attend APU? I am a student on campus and want to say this article pretty much represents the place for conservatives on campus. The ideas and beliefs of the "conservative" party are NOT the majority ideas and beliefs on this campus, ironically because it IS a Christian school. Traditional values are not lived out by most nor are they being witnessed by every day. The school is becoming increasingly more liberal, in every aspect. From the classroom, to the students. The culture is winning. I feel as if I am back in my liberal public high school. What is the point of paying big bucks for something you thought you'd be getting but aren't?? Seriously looking into transferring to a public school to save money since that's pretty much what I'm getting here. I commend and thank YAF for writing this article. In doing so, they have shed light on an issue that most don't recognize. Despite APU being a Christian school, it is NOT a conservative school. Thank you for supporting traditional values and our right to have this club on campus YAF!
Posted by youngconservative10 on 10/06/2012
"Youngconservative10"- If by Liberal, you mean that APU students are encouraged to think critically and allowed to have conversations about big issues in American culture, where opinions and ideas from more than one side are allowed to be discussed, than apparently yes, APU is liberal. But that also suggests that your definition of "liberal" is skewed. My time and monetary investment in Azusa Pacific University was worth every single dollar for the opportunity to have my thinking challenged by multiple perspectives as I developed a clearer understanding of what it means to live like Christ. No one ever promised you that by coming to APU, you wouldn't be pushed to think beyond the limits of what you are comfortable with, whatever side you could align yourself with. I challenge you to take this opportunity to learn from as many people as you can as you form your own opinions. Healthy conversation where people can both speak and be heard can be incredibly powerful. But allowing polarizing clubs that use terminology to unfairly attack faculty and student bodies as a way to "defend freedom" and free speech seems to be more divisive than influential. If the goal of the club is to keep a band of same-thinking people latched together, then it limits the opportunity to not only have the club's voices heard, much less taken seriously. I hate arguing about the fine line between politics and religion, but I hate even more hearing damaging comments from people about an institution that is so important to the growth of so many wonderful people I have had the honor of knowing.
Posted by Nemesia on 10/07/2012
I am a pretty recent alumnus from APU ('09), and would have to describe APU as a place that offers a great deal of ideological freedom. My professors there (all of whom are still there) ranged from very conservative to quite liberal, and the student body covers the same range (although the vast majority of students tend to be moderate or conservative/moderate). APU has, in the past, blocked the creation of quite-liberal student groups as well, and took flack for those decisions. Personally, I think APU would be wise to disband all formally recognized student clubs (why does it matter if Ultimate Frisbee Club is granted official recognition) in order to avoid these unnecessary controversies.
Posted by Sam on 10/07/2012
The university has posted a response which clarifies the issue here: http://www.apu.edu/media/news/mediaalert/19411/
Posted by Allison on 10/07/2012
I'll keep my personal opinions of YAF to myself...just as anyone not affiliated with APU should do. However, as we are bound to have opinions about things we may not be directly involved in, please at least read the public response and reason APU did not allow the group to change their affiliation, and THEN make your opinion. http://www.apu.edu/media/news/mediaalert/19411/
Posted by LnicoleG on 10/07/2012
I have today sent the following letter to Azusa Pacitic's president: 8 October 2012 Jon R. Wallace, President Azusa Pacific University P O Box 900 Azusa, California 91702 Dear Mr. Wallace: On October 7th, the university put out a press release concerning its actions concerning the planned student chapter of Young America’s Foundation. I have read your release, and I have read the corresponding explanation put out by YAF. I have also spoken with two of the students involved. I write because my son, Peter Jensen, is a high-school senior who has been interested in applying soon for admission to Azusa Pacific. We have visited your campus and –until now– were impressed. That feeling has changed. My son has no interest in applying to a school that, in the first instance, would take the actions against its students that Azusa Pacific has taken, and in the second instance, would put out such a facile and self-serving defense of what is, in fact, indefensible. You call your college “evangelical”. But actions speak louder than words. You condemn YAF’s use of divisive language, in particular. How can you claim to follow Jesus’ teachings, yet deny that divisive language is sometimes appropriate? Do you likewise condemn our Lord’s use of divisive language in Matthew 23:23? In that passage, Christ condemned certain self-important religious leaders as “hypocrites”. He might as well have been speaking about you! Your press release concludes with an invitation to the reader to find out more about Azusa Pacific. Very well; I have, and am disgusted. Please remove my son Peter’s name and email address from your records so that we do not receive any further solicitations to apply to your institution! Sincerely, PAUL ROLF JENSEN cc: Dave Burke, Director of Admissions
Posted by Paul Rolf Jensen on 10/08/2012
I love this article!
Posted by andyM on 10/08/2012
Good stuff.
Posted by MarkC on 10/08/2012
Very good indeed.
Posted by Jason Smith on 10/08/2012
Very good comments.
Posted by Martin S. on 10/08/2012
I agree.
Posted by J.Martin on 10/08/2012
Perfectly said.
Posted by Tyler S. on 10/08/2012
I agree too.
Posted by Bill H. on 10/08/2012
Let's recount the facts of what happened. The existing conservative club at APU (a PRIVATE university) wanted to become a chapter of YAF. And because APU determined YAF operated in ways that do not align with it's mission and identity, APU rejected YAF, as it has also rejected many progressive groups including a gay-straight alliance. Then Patrick Coyle of YAF, writes an article on a conservative blog that says APU "censors" conservatives. And the "conservatives" eat it up. Basically, if YAF is not allowed on a private campus, then YAF believes all conservatives are denied free speech and the university must be liberal and all the professors must be Marxist-Islamo-fascist feminists. This is exactly why APU did not want YAF -- they have a predetermined narrative and try to force everything into that narrative. There is nothing academic about having a preconceived version of the truth. That is not a dialogue. The fact is, conservatives are allowed to express their views at APU. There is an existing conservative club. And, APU skews far more conservative than the vast majority of universities in the country. Most of the views at APU are conservative! The idea that APU is liberal is hilarious to anyone who has spent time there. The people attacking APU clearly do not know the institution, the professors, the students, or the mission. APU has many political events and discussions with views from many sides, but civil discourse is expected. YAF seems to have a hard time with the civil discourse part -- and the facts. Furthermore, YAF is not standing up for conservative, Constitutional principles. As a private organization, APU has every right to determine its affiliations. That is a part of freedom of association. Students can be a part of YAF events outside APU, but they cannot force APU to affiliate with YAF officially. I thought conservatives were champions of private property and the rights of religious institutions to operate as they see fit based upon their religious beliefs? As others have noted, if a gay rights group tried to force its way onto Liberty's campus, would YAF say Liberty had to let them in? YAF is not defending any Constitutional principles. It's simply trying to get its way by any means necessary. The idea that APU is liberal simply because they don't allow just any group to form a chapter on campus is a new definition of liberal. If people actually read what the university believes, which is clearly stated on their website, the "conservatives" here would realize they are attacking a predominately conservative campus. There is no story here but the one being made up by YAF to try to form a new chapter where they are not wanted exactly because they pull stunts like this. YAF lost a lot of conservative credibility over this. They don't defend Constitutional and legal rights of private religious colleges. And they have clearly misrepresented an overwhelmingly conservative evangelical university, its community, and its values.
Posted by Allen on 10/09/2012
To the father of the prospective student -- you do realize that YAF is a secular organization, right? There is nothing evangelical about it. You seem to think that APU is not Christian unless it affiliates with a group that has no religious foundation whatsoever. Your politics and your faith are seriously confused. APU would help your son get that worked out through something they call education. But I'm sure anyone who can distinguish between "secular" and "religious" is probably an Islamo-Fascist-Marxist-Feminist-Anti-American-Jesus-hater, right?
Posted by Marshall on 10/09/2012
I deeply support & respect the ETHOS, vision and leadership at Azusa Pacific University. Here is their official statement relative this matter: University Statement As a Christ-centered university, Azusa Pacific welcomes and supports the opportunity for all students to engage in open political dialogue, including those with a conservative viewpoint. Late last week, an online article inaccurately reported that the university banned a conservative club on campus. We would like to provide some clarification on that issue. The university’s Young Conservative club has been in existence for a number of years. Recently, the club requested to change their name and be formally associated with the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) group. The university instead encouraged the group to keep its membership open to all conservative students. As an academic institution placing God First in all that we do, we not only welcome open dialogue with political student clubs on our campus, we encourage it as part of the total growth experience of our students. Azusa Pacific supports much of what YAF stands for, including its goal of preserving the U.S. Constitution, its values, and the God-given rights that we are guaranteed in that precious document. However, YAF uses divisive language and embraces some forms of political activism that do not align with who we are as a university. APU has supported and will continue to support open and honest discourse on a variety of political opinions and ideas. We strive to avoid those polarizing discussions commonly found in secular society, and instead encourage our community to examine political issues from a biblical worldview, to model civic virtue for our campus community, and to encourage spiritual unity in Christ. Azusa Pacific remains committed, as an evangelical, Christian institution, to be the light of Jesus Christ, in whom we find our ultimate freedom. It is that freedom that empowers us to love God and love our neighbor, as we strive to develop students who will make a difference in the world. We invite you to learn more about who we are as a university (@ www.apu.edu): University Mission Statement What We Believe President’s 2012 Faculty/Staff Kickoff Address Upcoming Lectures Thank you.
Posted by Dave on 10/09/2012
When students apply to Azusa no one suggests there are two classifications of clubs. Young America's Foundation does not accept second class student status for our young leaders especially when the reason given is a statement on our website that applies "if" the university sees itself as bias. Azusa's administrators obviously saw themselves as such. Thus, we are comfortable warning students if they apply to Azusa, they can expect to be treated differently from other clubs because of their conservative beliefs. APU says they are conservative. Supporting conservative students is demonstrated by helping them, not rejecting their associations. Besides, when a school with a conservative reputation treats conservative activists as second class students it gives a green light to all the more liberal schools to do the same. Discrimination is discrimination no matter who practices it!
Posted by Patrick Coyle on 10/10/2012
When people read the mission statement on the YAF website, they are told that “Young Americas Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.” No one suggests that having a college agree to formally endorse the establishment of an on-campus chapter of YAF is a necessary condition of that mission. As a conservative, I do not accept YAFs crimped and self-serving definition of freedom – a definition which we now know excludes the freedom of a private college to set its own standards for the recognition of student clubs. I do not accept the baseless allegation that Azusa Pacific treats conservative clubs differently from other clubs. As anyone can see from reviewing the APU response to this controversy, or even the account by Mr Coyle, the school declined to approve the club because of inflammatory language on the YAF website (which accuses host campuses of harboring liberal Marxist professors who indoctrinate their students). I do not accept the sweeping declaration that “Discrimination is discrimination no matter who practices it!” As a conservative, I understand that there is a significant difference between a public university which discriminates against student clubs on ideological grounds, and a private university which discriminates against student clubs that do not meet its standards of civility. I am comfortable warning prospective students that if they apply to YAF programs, they can expect to be mentored by an organization which is actively engaged in a senseless attack on an outstanding university that enthusiastically supports on-campus ROTC, presents a more diverse speaker program than any other college in the area, and genuinely respects and promotes human dignity.
Posted by Jim Belna on 10/10/2012
Patrick, first, thanks for recognizing that APU has a conservative reputation. Can you explain why your post on breitbart.com casually labeled APU as liberal with no evidence? Can you give an example of how conservative clubs are treated differently at APU? Is there a liberal club that got a green light to formally associate with an OUTSIDE, secular organization that uses divisive language on its website? Until you can prove that, you have no support for your accusations. As far as APU practicing discrimination, you bet they do. They discriminate in their hiring practices and formal associations based on faith, which is the constitutional right of all religious organizations in America. You are fighting against the conservative constitutional principles you say you defend. YAF is losing so much conservative credibility over this. And you, Patrick, seem to be at the center of the lies, the inflammatory headlines, and the gross misinterpretation of what it means to be conservative and to defend the Constitution. YAF should replace you ASAP. You're hurting the cause.
Posted by William on 10/12/2012
It's no surprise that many at Azusa Pacific are vehemently denying they have liberals at their university. As Jonah Goldberg points out, liberals hate to admit they have an ideology. It's the "other side" that they point fingers at being ideologues. But they never do...they are always "fair-minded" and "above and beyond labels." Private universities are not exempt from the 1st amendment. If Azusa is such a Christian university, why doesn't it defend the God-given right of freedom of speech?
Posted by San Jose on 10/12/2012
San Jose, can you show where APU officially denies there are any liberals at APU? Because most of what I see is that APU supports a diversity of perspectives, which is good for an educational environment. Can you show where Blackwell's free speech was denied? She seems to be speaking freely. She even wrote an open letter saying her conservative club has been allowed to use YAF materials on campus. This not a liberal vs conservative issue, nor is it about free speech. It is a freedom of religion issue. Secular organizations cannot force an affiliation with a private religious organization. You have decided that the only way free speech can be protected is if free religion is denied -- that YAF must be on campus or there is no free speech. Blackwell and conservatives on campus are expressing themselves freely, and there is no need for an outside secular organization that does not share APU's religious values to come in. What happened to conservatives protecting private property and the right of free religion?
Posted by on 10/13/2012
poor hypocrites i will pray for them that they are drawn towards Truth. Shalom God Bless y'all
Posted by john son of john on 10/14/2012
My name is John Harris, and I am an APU alum, class of 1990. Last night, I posted an article on this YAF website coming alongside Ashley and YAF’s desire to have a YAF chapter at APU, while also suggesting that YAF has a problem with divisive rhetoric. Tonight I would like to respond to some of the comments posted here after Patrick Coyle’s article. When I was a student, I was a member of the Socialist Party USA. Politically, I was the individual farthest to the left on the entire campus. That school did nothing but love me and encourage me in many ways. During the 1988 Presidential election, the student body was polled to support the Bush/Quayle ticket by a whopping 97%. As a political minority, I was treated the same as all other students. An administrator even asked me once, “John, why don’t you start a socialist club?” That administrator happened to be a political conservative. Regardless of the opinion of youngconservative10, it is my understanding that APU remains a conservative (theological) Christian institution whose faculty and staff, on the average, are politically right of center. It may be that youngconservastive10 is mistaking open discourse, variety of opinion, and higher-order thinking skills for “liberalism.” Patrick Coyle, I would like to invite you to visit Azusa Pacific University with me. I would like you to determine the “liberal”ness of APU from your own experiences. You may call me at (626) 354-3902. Note that APU would allow an official Young Republicans on campus, as well as a Young Democrats. You might look at the websites of these groups to see if they match some of the inflammatory statements made by YAF (sarcasm intended). Currently, YAF is using tactics similar to that of gay rights groups, that if you aren’t for gay marriage, then you hate gays. If you don’t allow a YAF chapter, then you are liberal. If APU turned down a KKK chapter, would they be white haters? YAF is, in part, putting on a face similar to Fox News. In case you haven’t heard, Fox News is what we call “singing to the choir” rather than convincing liberals of the values of conservative thinking. If YAF wants to be at the same place as Fox News, that is their free choice. If they want, however, to really affect authentic debate, they might want to look at how the Republican Party projects its image. APU is an institution of higher learning, not lower rhetoric. As a religious nonprofit institution, they reserve their Constitutional rights to pick and choose clubs as they see fit. It seems that, in this case, they have chosen to allow organizations that allow higher learning, rather than ones that call anyone that doesn’t like them “liberals.”
Posted by John Harris APU '90 on 10/15/2012
Does it make YAF happier if I told you that the APU refused to recognize GLBT Club as well? At APU, there is both a Young Conservatives and Young Progressives Club. I don't see how you can make the claim that conservative students are treated as second class citizens. They have not banned the Conservative Club (it's been in existence for years). They only rejected their application to become an affiliate with YAF. YAF's mission does not align with APU's and so they rejected it. Simple as that.
Posted by Andrew Yip on 10/15/2012
In response to Patrick Coyle, while I value your right to free speech, I must as that you please stop referring to conservative students at APU as "second class citizens". It is offensive to students who are actually treated as second class citizens both at APU and in American society today. Conservatives at APU are allowed to have a club and have resources available to them here on campus. Minority groups such as LGBTQ are not allowed to have an on campus group nor are they given any on campus resources. The fact that you are comparing the treatment of conservative students on campus to that of actual minority groups just shows your privilege and sense of entitlement. I will always stand up for those who are being oppressed or who are not given the same advantages as others. Conservative students at APU, however, do not fit into this category. They are not the victims nor are they treated as the "second class citizens" that you are trying to paint them to be.
Posted by AJR on 10/15/2012
AJR, YAF is not asking anyone to ban LGBTQ clubs. Lighten-up a bit. If APU bans LGBTQ clubs, shame on them. How can you be offended, AJR, by the "second class citizens," comment? If conservatives are being treated as second class citizens, then how does that take away from you being treated as second class citizens as members of the LGBTQ? Can't both feel like they are being treated as 2nd class citizens? Are we that sensitive?! Can we just all chill out a bit. Censorship includes everything, from banning clubs, to banning names of clubs, to banning certain speech. At least conservatives stand for free speech and your right to have a LGBTQ club, even if you have a different viewpoint. You should stand in solidarity with YAF and have empathy (considering the administration has allowed certain groups/not allowed others) not intolerance and divisiveness. Do you we all really want a "big daddy" controlling administration telling us what we can and cannot do and say?
Posted by SJC on 10/15/2012
Dear Andrew Yip, Let's say you are a Muslim. If the administration told you, a Muslim student that he could have a Muslim club, but in NO way is he allowed to even mention the name "Muslim Students Association" or CAIR, would you be offended if you were that student? If the administration told you Andrew, that you could have a pro-animal rights club, but you are banned from starting a group under PETA or Coalition to Abolish Fur trade, would you be satisfied? If the APU administration told you that you could have an IPHONE on campus but in NO Way can you have a Apple-fan club on campus, because it associated or mentions Apple (because it's associated with the Apple corporation), would you be confused? Therefore, do you feel it's right that the university bans names and affiliations? Young America's Foundation is the most mainstream conservative organization out there...the largest in fact. You cannot legally censor a group's name under the Constitution.
Posted by SJC on 10/15/2012
YAF's mission is to promote free enterprise, limited government, traditional values, and a strong national defense. Which part of that "extreme" mission does the APU administration reject?
Posted by SJC on 10/15/2012
SJC, APU did not have a problem with the name. They had a problem with an outside secular organization trying to infiltrate their campus when it does not share all of their values. And APU can ban YAF under the Constitution. It's called the 1st Amendment. Freedom of religion. Blackwell associates with YAF. Blackwell has free speech. She cannot make APU formally affiliate with YAF under the Constitution. APU defended its 1st Amendment rights. YAF is hypocritical in saying they defend traditional values. Freedom of religion predates the Constitution in this country. It's why people came here to begin with. That's the American tradition. Why doesn't YAF support that?
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