Brigham Young University-Idaho disbanded the student-run College Republicans and College Democrats, arguing removing political organizations is necessary to enforce the school’s new political neutrality policy. Professor Ron Nate, who is involved with the student groups, said the school was worried allowing the groups would give the impression the school was not neutral because the College Republicans were a more active group. When the student organizations were established in 1954, the administration allowed the groups to form as long as there was one from each political party to balance one another. Presidents of both student groups disagreed with the decision. BYU-Idaho’s administration said they are still encouraging students to be politically active and are working to organize one non-partisan political group. As part of the revised policy, political candidates or speakers actively campaigning will not be invited to speak on campus. The main BYU campus in Provo, Utah is not dissolving the student groups on their campuses, nor is the BYU-Hawaii campus.
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Issue: Civic Participation