The Twitter account of the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State deleted a tweet that affirmed conservatives have a right to feel safe on campus Sunday after facing backlash from leftist students.
“Dear conservative students, your viewpoints are important,” the tweet graphic said, attempting to be inclusive of students from all backgrounds. The tweet also extends inclusivity to Black, Muslim, Jewish, Latinx, LGBTQ+, female, and international students.
Penn State deleted this tweet which affirmed that conservative students are welcome on campus after *checks notes* liberal students expressed outrage pic.twitter.com/KuCvJtoKfr
— Kara Zupkus (@kara_kirsten) July 11, 2020
According to the Daily Caller, Penn State’s Director of Strategic Communication William Hessert said the tweet was posted to show the school’s supportive and inclusive environment. However, not all students felt that way.
“Conservatives in the United States do not live in a system that was built from the blood and trauma of their ancestors — a system that continues to put down people who look like [their ancestors] every day,” Penn State student Cassandra Nuñez told the Daily Collegian.
Nunez also said that the experiences of conservative students should not be equated with the experiences of students of color, noting that the tweet also excluded students with disabilities and sexual assault victims.
The Daily Collegian also alleged that many students felt the tweet demonstrated “false allyship” with communities of color and the administration’s lack of action to address recent acts of racism.
After the deleted tweet circulated on Twitter, the Penn State College Republicans said, “We appreciate you noticing. Our opinions are important. We do not believe that fostering an inclusive environment among the groups mentioned in the original [Penn State College of Liberal Arts] tweet, or any other groups within the Penn State community, should be controversial.”
We appreciate you noticing. Our opinions are important. We do not believe that fostering an inclusive environment among the groups mentioned in the original @PSULiberalArts tweet, or any other groups within the Penn State community, should be controversial. #WeAre
— Penn State College Republicans (@PennStateGOP) July 12, 2020