Chapter Of Distinction: Loyola Marymount University YAF

The Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Loyola Marymount University took on multiple projects, including advocacy for pro-life values and against a “privilege walk.” The event that garnered LMU YAF the most attention, though, was their Fred Allen Lecture Series event with Ben Shapiro, one of four speakers hosted by LMU YAF during the 2018-2019 academic year. LMU students and faculty reacted with panic when it was announced LMU YAF would be bringing the #1 requested speaker in America to their campus. Administrators attempted to enforce new guidelines for so-called “notable speakers” such as a requirement that no one could perceive Shapiro’s remarks as offensive. After Young America’s Foundation highlighted this and other ridiculous criteria that would be impossible to meet without controlling students’ minds, LMU dropped the requirements. Still set on preventing conservative ideas from being heard, a professor attempted to shame LMU administrators into blocking Shapiro from appearing on campus. Young America’s Foundation again exposed this action, and the attempt to censor conservative speech and ideas was thwarted. Following Shapiro’s lecture—which filled the 500-seat room past capacity and has since been viewed more than 240,000 times online—LMU YAF saw a surge of inspired students clambering to join their chapter. As LMU YAF chair Adam Duarte recalled, “there was a roar of support for YAF… After the event, the previously vocal social justice warriors and administrative detractors went back into the shadows. They no longer hassle us, and YAF and LMU feels victorious.” The following members of LMU YAF were instrumental in the chapter’s success:

-Hana Thomas

-Allegra Antimarino

-William Herzl

-Andrew Alcorn

-Phillip Nieto

-William Donahue

-Kendall Colletti

-Blake Fragoso