Update: Jan. 24, 11:21 p.m.
In a Jan. 24 San Diego State College Republicans meeting, club president Madison Marks-Noble said the chapter voted to voluntarily de-charter itself, officially separating itself from the California College Republicans.
Original Story:
The San Diego State College Republicans is at risk of losing its official, recognized status on Dec. 23 after the California College Republicans judicial board voted to prevent the chapter from renewing their charter if they do not get a new president. Now, ten state chapters have voted to remove themselves in protest of CCR leadership.
Associate Justice of the CCR judicial board Matthew Vitale ruled on Dec. 23 San Diego State College Republicans President Madison Marks-Noble violated an organization bylaw that prohibits the leaking of private and confidential information. The private conversation was between Marks-Noble and CCR Chairwoman Ariana Rowlands. According to court documents, Rowlands referred to Chico State Republicans President Sarah Morcott as a “bitch.”
Marks-Noble sent a screenshot of the conversation to Morcott, who later produced a copy to CCR Parliamentarian Kimo Gandall. Gandall, who did not return a request for comment from The Daily Aztec, alleged the screenshot was in violation of an organization bylaw.
The CCR bylaws prohibit “unauthorized, public disclosure of personal communications” in conversations over social media or within group chats. Such communications are those on public sites “which would be damaging to the reputation” of the organization or harm the “personal and/or professional relationships of the injured party.”
Marks-Noble said she initially supported the passage of the specific bylaw as an important measure against the leaking of official state organization communications. She said the bylaw was misused to litigate a screenshot of a personal conversation to retaliate for political purposes, considering Marks-Noble had earlier announced her candidacy for state leadership on a slate in opposition to Gandall’s.
Vitale found Marks-Noble’s screenshot was disseminated without Rowlands’ authorization and harmed the professional relationship between Rowlands and Morcott. His ruling stripped Marks-Noble and Morcott of their good standing with CCR. Vitale’s opinion cited accountability of all organization members as a principal consideration.
“Without a method of holding members accountable, the bylaws and other governing documents may as well cease to exist,” Vitale said.
In protest of CCR leadership, the executive boards of ten chapters voted to de-charter their organizations. The ten chapters criticized the case as a mere “petty, personal dispute” in a Jan. 16 press release.
“CCR has deteriorated into a dysfunctional mess ran by a small social clique that is more focused on ‘punishing’ dissatisfied chapters and members,” the press release said.
Additionally, in a separate press release, UC Riverside College Republicans President Alan Nguyen alleged interference and harassment by state organization officials during a chapter meeting on Jan. 17. Nguyen said officials attended the meeting unannounced, with one berating him in front of chapter members. UC Riverside was among the ten state chapters that dissociated their clubs from CCR.
“The state organization is willing to publicly attack local chapter presidents if it means preserving power and control,” Nguyen said.
CCR also issued a press release, calling the dissociation of state chapters a “failed attempt to seize power.” They also criticized the chapters’ accusations against state leadership as unsubstantiated.
“They have divided college republicans across the state in an effort to destroy this organization,” the press release said.
The SDSU chapter can regain its good standing with the state organization if it appoints a new president or members restructure the club’s governing documents under new leadership, according to Vitale’s ruling. Otherwise, the chapter’s charter will expire in March.
Marks-Noble remains president of the organization and said she plans to meet with chapter members this week to discuss future plans, which may include following the ten chapters that voluntarily de-chartered from CCR. She said she believes more chapters will move to dissociate themselves from the state organization in light of the current situation.
“I won’t let some distant entity dictate what happens in my club,” Marks-Noble said.
A previous version of this story stated the charter of the organization had already been revoked, however the charter remains intact until March unless the chapter can replace their president or the members restructure the club’s governing documents under new leadership. The Daily Aztec regrets this error.
