Conservative student under investigation for pro-Israel pamphlets, questioning transgenderism

Davidson College officials are weighing disciplinary measures against a conservative student for distributing a pamphlet supporting Israel and posting about the gender controversy of an Olympic boxer.

The president of Davidson College’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom — who has received death threats from peers for criticizing abortion — was recently told she likely violated the school’s Code of Responsibility for distributing pro-Israel materials on campus, sparking a debate on First Amendment rights.

President Cynthia Huang received a letter Feb. 28 from the Director of Rights & Responsibilities suggesting the conservative student group she leads harassed peers.

It cites their distribution of a pamphlet last fall titled “Five Myths About Israel Perpetrated by the Pro-Hamas Left.” It states Palestinians are not a distinct people and there has never been a Palestinian state.

Additionally, the college’s letter refers to a YAF Instagram post about Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, whose gender was controversial during the 2024 Olympics.

“The idea of harassment I did not understand,” Huang said in an interview with The College Fix.

“It’s really free speech at the end of the day. Just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be expressed. Developing critical thinking skills requires seeing different viewpoints across the political spectrum.”

Huang said she was not forcing students to read the pamphlet but simply displayed it across campus, leaving students the option to pick it up or not.

Davidson College did not respond to a request from The College Fix for comment.

Mak Tompkins, Davidson’s director of student rights and responsibilities, wrote in the disciplinary letter that the accusations were examples of misconduct because they allegedly include “misinformation” and could foster Islamophobia and transphobia.

Tompkins, whose online bio states she uses “she/they” pronouns, wrote that some students felt “threatened and unsafe on campus” because of the materials.

Davidson’s letter gave Huang the option to either resolve the issue mutually by accepting responsibility and waiving her right to appeal or face a Code of Responsibility Council hearing.

Huang contested the charges.

“The language of the letter was so vague that anything could count as harassment,” Huang told The Fix.

Since Huang had distributed the pamphlets in October, she said she is confused as to why her school waited until Feb. 28 to send the letter.

“I knew people were not happy about it, but I thought it was interesting that they went to administration and called it harassment,” Huang said.

In an op-ed written for YAF, Huang also pointed out she has received death threats for supporting the pro-life position on campus.

“Davidson’s commitment to free speech, as I have now repeatedly seen first-hand, only applies to those with whom the college agrees. For example, when I published an opinion piece expressing my pro-life values during the fall semester and received death threats from my fellow classmates, Davidson College took no action,” she wrote.

“Even worse, when I had mentioned such occurrences to the Director of Right & Responsibilities during our meeting, she expressed that she was aware of them. Although she communicated that she was sympathetic and would be willing to speak with me about my concerns, it seems odd to me that she knew of my circumstances and made no effort to intervene,” she added.

“Instead, she seemed to be more concerned about students who felt ‘threatened and unsafe’ by literature that did not target any individuals but simply contained facts.”

The free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has pushed back on the school, claiming its response is in violation of its own policies on free expression.

FIRE on X: “Distributing political pamphlets is core protected speech, but at @DavidsonCollege the YAF chapter is facing charges for allegedly spreading “misinformation” and “promoting Islamophobia” for sharing the pamphlet pictured below.

Distributing political pamphlets is core protected speech, but at @DavidsonCollege the YAF chapter is facing charges for allegedly spreading “misinformation” and “promoting Islamophobia” for sharing the pamphlet pictured below. pic.twitter.com/Cu8CVtvAjB

— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) March 5, 2025

“Critics of YAF’s arguments should respond with more speech in the marketplace of ideas instead of trying to censor their ideological opponents,” FIRE attorney Jessie Appleby stated in a news release.

“Unfortunately, Davidson administrators capitulated to student complainants and are trying to suppress the chapter’s views. The First Amendment protects the pamphlet and Instagram post, and so should a private college that promises its students the right to free speech.”

FIRE urges Davidson officials to drop the investigation and all disciplinary sanctions against its YAF chapter out of respect for its commitment to free speech.

Huang told The Fix she has yet to hear from campus leaders on whether she will be punished.

“At the end of the day, I want YAF and all conservative students and groups to be treated the same,” Huang said.

MORE: Davidson College forces athletes to watch ‘only whites are racist’ video

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: YAF student pictured in front of image of Davidson College; courtesy photo and YouTube screenshot.