Duke University’s student government made an unprecedented decision Wednesday night by voting to de-fund and de-charter the university’s College Republicans.
But it’s not over for the organization just yet.
The senate’s bill to de-fund the club still needs to be signed into law by Duke Student Government President Mike Lefevre, and the de-chartering act needs to be approved by the Student Organization Finance Committee — an extension of the senate that deals with recognizing and funding student organizations.
“Nothing has been decided on this yet,” said Lefevre, who has two days to veto the senate’s decision. “This has just happened.”
For months, the club’s former chairman Justin Robinette, who has claimed since April that he was impeached by the organization’s executive board for being gay, has worked with his supporters to compile evidence and file complaints against the organization.
“I don’t feel vindicated, but I do feel humbled by the senate’s decision last night,” Robinette said.
Senators were presented discriminatory e-mails and anonymous threatening messages received by Robinette and others, who have said they were harassed by the members of the club.
Although Lefevre said he was shocked by the evidence, he said he met with the club’s Chief of Staff Rachel Provost on Thursday in hopes that members would consider an internal recognition of their wrongdoings before he has to sign off on the de-funding.
“But I can’t coerce or create any kind of change,” he said.
The Student Organization Finance Committee, the body now in charge of the pending de-chartering, also met Thursday.
