Penn State Deletes Tweet Supporting Conservative Students After Leftist Backlash

Clay Robinson | July 13, 2020
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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. 

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.”

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