Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston University College Republicans are demanding change on campus following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The organization also known as BUCR sent a letter Thursday to the university’s president, Dr. Melissa Gilliam.
The letter listed three things that the university needed to implement to foster a safer space for conservative students on campus: holding people who incite or glorify violence accountable; safeguarding classrooms to allow space for genuine debate; and providing appropriate security for College Republican events.
The organization’s letter also claimed, “Rather than fostering intellectual diversity, the university has allowed a single ideological perspective to dominate, leaving students of differing opinion isolated.”
Philip Wohltorf, Vice President of BUCR, told WBZ NewsRadio that he is one of the students who have felt isolated.
“After the terrible death of Charlie Kirk, we had a bunch of members reach out that they now would be scared to speak out about being conservative on campus,” said Wohltorf.
“Our club meetings are really a safe space, and we want to stay a safe space for Republican and conservative students.”
In a statement to WBZ NewsRadio, a Boston University spokesperson said, “President Gilliam has said that every student should be comfortable sharing their personal views and expressing their political beliefs. The university clearly states this in our policies and guidelines, encouraging respectful dialogue. We work hard to foster civil discourse among the BU community.”
The statement concluded, “We condemn violence and our hearts go out to the Kirk Family, his friends and supporters, and to every American.”
Gilliam has not publicly responded to BUCR’s letter at this time.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.