Charrise Lane, a senior at Florida A&M University, is striving to revive the College Republicans chapter at her historically Black university. Still, her efforts face a significant hurdle: finding a faculty advisor, NBC News reports. With most FAMU students registering as Democrats, Lane’s desire to create a space for conservative dialogue has left her feeling isolated.
“I believe that Black people are needed on both sides,” Lane told NBC News. Her struggle is not unique; in the past, several HBCUs hosted college Republican chapters, including Howard University, Morehouse College, and even FAMU. The National College Republican Committee maintains a presence on nearly 2,000 campuses nationwide. However, currently, no active chapters exist at any HBCUs.
Lane has contacted multiple professors for guidance, but only two have responded thus far. Those professors cited constraints that prevented them from taking on the advisory role. Despite these setbacks, she remains undeterred, meeting with like-minded classmates and attending events with Florida State University’s College Republicans.
Pro-Black and Conservative
She shared a video explaining why she is Republican with her 41,000 X followers. Like the fuel behind Lane’s commitment to revitalizing the College Republicans, she said her Christian upbringing shapes her conservative values. She advocates strong family units, anti-abortion measures, and school choice, which she believes resonate with the Republican Party’s historical tenets. However, her views have made her a target for criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
Why Am I Republican? pic.twitter.com/t2jQz3R6ec
— Charrise Lane (@CharriseJLane) July 30, 2024
“From Republicans, I get called a Black supremacist, and sometimes they say that I race bait, and then, from the Dems, sometimes I get called an Uncle Tom,” Lane shared. This dual criticism underscores her complicated position as a pro-Black conservative in a predominantly liberal environment.
Felicia Barnes, assistant director of student organizations at FAMU, reaffirmed the administration’s openness to welcoming the College Republicans back to campus. The school requires campus organizations to have at least ten members and a faculty member associated with the university for at least three years to serve as an advisor.
