University of Buffalo sued over revoking recognition status for Young Americans for Freedom student group
The University of Buffalo has been hit with a lawsuit by the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) who claim that the school suppressed their student chapter. The lawsuit filed on Thursday by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) stated that the Student Association voted to revise policies regarding club recognition back in March. The policies now include a new requirement stating that other than clubs in the Academic, Engineering, or Sports Councils, and clubs whose sole purpose is to engage in inter-collegiate competition, no SA club may be a chapter of or otherwise part of any outside organization.” Due to its affiliation with the national organization Young America’s Foundation, the Buffalo chapter of the YAF had its recognition status revoked.
The ADF are arguing that the move is in violation of many conservative students’ rights to assembly. “Universities can’t pick and choose which student groups are allowed on campus, but the new policy at the University of Buffalo is doing just that by kicking out groups that are affiliated with a national organization. This is a gross violation of the First Amendment, and we are hopeful the court will recognize that”, Caleb Dalton, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, told Fox News Digital.
Without university recognition, the YAF Buffalo chapter would lose access to funding, the ability to reserve space for events, the privilege to fundraise and the eligibility to take part in membership recruitment opportunities. The YAF lawsuit requested “nominal damages” against the organization for these actions, along with attorney fees and “other further relief to which Plaintiffs may be entitled.”
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF)?
Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is an American conservative youth organization that was founded in 1960.
What is the University of Buffalo?
The University of Buffalo is a public research university located in Buffalo, New York.
What did the Student Association at the University of Buffalo vote for?
The Student Association at the University of Buffalo voted to revise policies regarding club recognition back in March. The policies now include the new requirement indicating that no SA club may be a chapter of, or otherwise part of any outside organization, except for clubs in the Academic, Engineering, or Sports Councils, and clubs whose sole purpose is to engage in inter-collegiate competition.
What is the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)?
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a conservative Christian nonprofit organization in the United States committed to protecting religious freedom.
What did the lawsuit claim?
The lawsuit claimed that the move made by the University of Buffalo’s student association is in violation of many conservative students’ rights to assembly.
What happens if the Young Americans for Freedom Buffalo chapter loses recognition status?
Without university recognition, the YAF Buffalo chapter would lose access to funding, the ability to reserve space for events, the privilege to fundraise and the eligibility to take part in membership recruitment opportunities.

Lawsuit Filed Against University of Buffalo for Stripping Recognition Status from Young Americans for Freedom Club
The Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) has filed a lawsuit against the University of Buffalo, alleging its student chapter has been suppressed. The lawsuit, which was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), centers around a policy change made by the Student Association at the university in March. The policy stipulates that “no SA club may be a chapter of or otherwise part of any outside organization,” with the exception of clubs in the Academic, Engineering, or Sports Councils, and clubs that engage in intercollegiate competition. YAF’s recognition status was revoked because of its affiliation with the national organization Young America’s Foundation, despite the fact that it had been an official student club since 2017. YAF claims that this is a violation of conservative students’ rights to assembly. Without university recognition, the YAF Buffalo chapter would lose access to funding, the ability to reserve space for events, the privilege to fundraise, and the eligibility to take part in membership recruitment opportunities. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Caleb Dalton, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, called the policy change a “gross violation of the First Amendment.”