This petition is part of our September 24th letter, and is the first step to help reverse Fordham University's Free Speech Ranking, a measure to restore civility on campus, and a response to campus climate in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination.

This petition aims to bring us together as a university community and demand that Fordham University adopt a Framework For Civility to ensure that all students are respected, safe, and know that they have the backing of the university to voice their political ideals, values, and beliefs. We need safeguards to ensure civil discourse, regardless of political affiliation. 

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Our letter to the Fordham Community and Fordham University is as follows: 

Dear members of the Fordham University community, 

We are concerned about the climate of colleges and universities across the nation, including our own. In the past two weeks, our E-Board has held the same feelings of grief, sadness, and loss due to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. These are the same feelings that millions of Americans have been subjected to in the wake of Charlie’s assassination.

Charlie was a man who was dedicated to one of the key foundations of our nation: free expression. His commitment to civil discourse and debate is not only exemplary, but are also core elements of our club’s beliefs and mission. 

We have been in communication with Fordham University, urging them to consider the fact that students are lost, scared for their safety, and are uneasy about the future ahead. We have communicated the message that the uniqueness of the aftermath of Charlie’s assassination is that Republicans are not alone in mourning his death. Democrats and Independants are shocked and mourning as well. While we respectfully disagree with the university’s decision to not make a statement to students about Charlie’s death, due to the guidelines of Fordham’s Framework for Issuing University Statements, we are taking up the mantle of making a statement at this time. Our community needs to hear a message that brings us together now, more than ever.

The reality for our club and members is that we are nervous for our safety on campus. So much so that we have asked, and will continue to ask, Public Safety Officers to stand nearby and outside of our meeting to ensure our club’s safety during this intensified time. 

As it stands, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has ranked Fordham University at 191 of 257 in their free speech rankings. This is concerning not only for our club and E-Board, but for every student who holds political views and wishes to voice them. Now is the time for our community to come together, learn from each other’s perspectives, and most importantly: respect them. Charlie’s assassination is not only a wake up call for conservatives to be mindful of the violence and vitriol that is held against them, but for any college student who could be targeted or harassed due to their political views. 

This ranking from FIRE can be reversed, but it starts with every student, professor, faculty member, and alumni demanding that we come together as a community. Only together can we put Fordham on the map and show our nation and colleagues at other colleges and universities that Fordham can become a beacon for tolerance and respect. We can accomplish this only as a united university community. 

Moving past the tragedy of Charlie’s murder doesn’t start and end with dialogue. We need to commit to it in order to ensure it. Due to this, the 2025-2026 E-Board of the Fordham College Republicans has endorsed and begun a petition that asks administrators at Fordham University to establish a Framework For Civility. We have seen the university’s prior attempts to teach civility through last year’s Fitzsimons Presidential Initiative on Civics and Civility. While we appreciate the lessons taught then, we need those lessons and reminders carried over to this school year as well in more effective ways. The lessons taught throughout the Initiative need to be emphasized and continued this year because of the wake-up call that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents have receieved in the wake of Charlie’s assassination on a college campus in Utah. 

We need to see a cooldown and eradication of violence, hostility, and threatening acts. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum that you’re on; Charlie’s assassination has proven that violence or hostile sentiments can affect you and your family when you least expect it to do so. Mitigating issues before they get to either of those points is essential to keep our campus safe. The framework we are urging the University to craft will be a promising start.

Each and every student at Fordham University came to our school because of Fordham’s Jesuit mission. We came here to be immersed in topics of civility, dignity, community, and humility. We also came here to be immersed in lessons on civil discourse, critical thinking, respect, and justice. Above all, we decided to enroll at Fordham because of the university’s commitment to the cornerstone of Jesuit teaching: Cura Personalis.

As it is, students across the nation are fearful to voice their values or political ideals in class, to friends, or in any other setting due to fears of ostracization, being made an example, or even having grades deducted for their politics. In some cases, students at universities across the U.S. have also been subjected to violence for their political beliefs or party affiliation. It doesn’t have to be this way, and a Framework for Civility is a robust start.

We ask that if you care about civil discourse, civility, or the sentiments that have been stoked by the shocking and horrific events at Utah Valley University on September 10, you sign on to the petition at the link in our bio. 

We do not need more political divide, ostracization, or fearfulness; the U.S. already holds enough of each. Fordham can be a beacon that shows that those obstacles can be navigated and spun around. However, it starts by putting politics aside and reembracing teachings like loving thy neighbor, being a good samaritan, and doing for others as you would have done unto you. 

Best Regards, and Thank You, 

 The Fordham College Republicans 2025-2026 E-Board