Tweet Ends In Turmoil

SCU College Republicans Requests Dissolution

Following the assault on the United States Capitol by a mob of domestic terrorists, the SCU College Republicans ( SCU CR), a registered student organization (RSO), posted a tweet endorsing the violence. The RSO has since requested to be dissolved.

According to Associated Student Government (ASG), the individual who posted the tweet is not a current SCU CR officer.

The tweet on Jan. 6 displayed a photo of politicians under lockdown in the Capitol while terrorists stormed and searched the building. The caption read, “Make Politicians Afraid Again.” 

ASG condemned the tweet and reported that the current SCU CR president is ashamed of the post and unaware of who has access to the Twitter account.

University administration reported that the @SCU_CR Twitter account went private, and then was deleted on the same day they learned of the post. 

Vice Provost for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger also condemned the tweet in an email sent on Jan. 8. 

“SCU is committed to antiracism and nonviolence, and we are vigilant in ensuring that this is a community of true inclusion and belonging,” said Rosenberger in the email.

After the historic win of two Democratic senators’ in Georgia gave Democrats control of Congress, Trump stirred rage in his followers with baseless claims that the election was fraudulent. He instructed his supporters to storm the Capitol, where they invaded the offices of Congressmen and women, damaged property and carried Confederate flags, all the while chanting, “USA! USA!” The rampage left five dead.

Leaders like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who have a record of historically supporting Trump, held him responsible for the insurrection. 

“The mob was fed lies,” McConnell said to The Associated Press. “They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like.”

As Republicans—in the SCU CR, across the country and in Congress—have continued separating themselves from the violence of the attack, a divide within the party has deepened. Congressmen and women, since the insurrection, made their stance on the president’s actions clear in their decision to either hold Trump accountable for inciting violence, or continue being complicit to the kind of violence America saw culminate on Jan. 6. 

The SCU CR reported to The Santa Clara that they “have no desire to be affiliated with any violent political movement.” 

In order for the club to fully dissolve, the club must have at least two-thirds of its members present, and meet a simple majority vote. Hard evidence for the agreement to dissolve the RSO, such as a petition that meets the simple majority, must also be submitted to ASG.

University administration and ASG have alleged that they are actively working to identify the person responsible for posting the tweet, and urge anyone with information or questions about the post to contact Tedd Vanadilok in the Center for Student Involvement.