On March 2nd, the UST College Republicans were informed by the Deputy Director of Campus Life of the department’s decision to reject the club's request to host a speaking event with noted Catholic political commentator, Michael Knowles of the Daily Wire. The club had been working with the administration and the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), a national organization that helps conservative clubs bring prominent speakers to campus across the country, in organizing this event since last December. The rationale behind this decision was that the presence of Michael Knowles on campus would "violate the Universities Core Convictions".

There are numerous objections to the rationale behind this refusal and the policy that guides this decision. However regardless of these objections, we believe that in the spirit of free speech on campus, it is within the University’s best interest to allow a mainstream conservative commentator to come to campus and speak to the student body. We, the signers of the petition (current or past students, UST parents, faculty, or staff), respectfully ask the University to reconsider this decision and allow the UST College Republicans to go forward in hosting Mr. Knowles as a speaker.