Dartmouth college republicans host controversial activist

FROM ACTIVIST PAGE 1 when they don’t understand the consequences — I certainly didn’t — is irresponsible,” she said. “And if you are a fully grown adult and you have undergone physiotherapy and completely understand the consequences, yes, I support you getting that surgery. The issue is young kids being fed this information.”

Ezzo echoed Cole’s platform, asserting that children are not able to ofer informed consent for genderafrming procedures.

“The whole point that we’re trying to emphasize in this event is that in medicine, you need to have informed consent,” Ezzo said. “And you can’t have consent when you’re so young, and you can’t really be properly informed.”

According to Mendoza, the medical community is “so quick to present gender dysphoria as the issue” because treatment for gender dysphoria is “a lot easier” — with a more straightforward standard for care — than treatments for other psychiatric conditions. At the same time, Mendoza said treatment for gender dysphoria can have lasting impacts on the patient.

“Once a person has undergone these treatments, they’re guaranteed to be a lifelong patient, because once you have the gonads and the genitalia, you are no longer capable of normal sexual function,” Mendoza said. “They can’t have their own children and can’t function normally without exogenous hormones.”

Anastasia Rodzianko, a community member from Etna, New Hampshire said she attended the event because a friend forwarded her an email from the College Republicans. As a parent with young children, Rodzianko said she and her husband “weren’t really aware of the gender spectrum” until this year.

Rodzianko added that she was “surprised” and “scared” by students protesting outside, adding that she “didn’t realize this was such an emotional issue.”

On the other hand, many students said the event was harmful to the transgender community.

Quinn Allred ’26, who identifes as a cisgender, gay man, said he attended the protest and intentionally boycotted the event to show the Dartmouth transgender community that they are “supported and loved.”

Allred added that he took issue with Cole’s platform to restrict minors from getting gender-afrming medical treatments.

“Conservatives are all about preserving the family unit but children can’t transition without parental consent in the majority of cases,” Allred said. “[Cole’s platform] actually takes the power away from families and gives it to the government, which is so incongruent with the [Conservatives’] own ideology.”

As a non-binary student, Chesnokova said that they were “surprised” that the College allowed this event to happen, especially given the increased risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide for transgender youth.

According to an email sent to the student body, the Ofce of Pluralism and Leadership and LGBTQIA+ Student Advising hosted a joint “Drop In Space” during the Cole event with beverages, coloring books, information about campus resources and pastries.

“As part of Pride Month, events and opportunities, such as the drop-in space, were created to enable students to connect with one another, discuss the ever-changing political climate and just be together in the space,” senior assistant dean and OPAL director Rachele Hall wrote in an email statement.

The Dartmouth Democrats also released a statement on April 18 in response to the event.

“Gender-affirming healthcare is life-saving healthcare and the demonization of this practice occurring in state legislatures across the country is abhorrent,” the statement wrote. “Conversations like these seek to invalidate the existence of trans siblings.”

A historically African-American fraternity, Omega Psi Phi joins three other member organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council — Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Delta Sigma Theta sorority — according to the Ofce of Greek Life’s website. The National Pan-Hellenic Council is in charge of the “overall welfare of historically Black Greek organizations” on campus, according to its constitution.

Jones said that while the fraternity does not have a physical space on campus yet, Omega Psi Phi hopes to eventually have “some type of space” by the fall. Gamse added that the Ofce of Greek Life is planning to provide Omega Psi Phi with an apartment in the Channing Cox or Maxwell senior apartments starting in 2024.

Gamse noted that Greek houses under the National Pan-Hellenic Organization have separate bylaws from those under the Interfraternity Council and Inter-Sorority Council, including rules and timelines for rush. Omega Psi Phi’s new member recruitment process has not yet been clearly defned, Gamse said.

According to the Omega Psi Phi national organization’s website, the fraternity was the “frst international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically black college.”

Founded in 1911, Omega Psi Phi was established by three undergraduate students at Howard University — Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman — together with their faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just, the website added.

Jones added that the reintroduction of Omega Psi Phi at the College is especially “important” as Ernest Everett Just, a Dartmouth valedictorian from the Class of 1907, was “denied” a valedictory address by the College for being Black.

“We thought that there needs to be men of Omega on campus because of that,” Jones said. “How does [a fraternity’s]

Gamse said that he frst met with the four students last May to discuss the possibility of re-establishing a local chapter of Omega Psi Phi. After their meeting, Gamse said he contacted representatives of Omega Psi Phi — who were “really interested in the opportunity” — and coordinated meetings between the national organization and the students, he added.

Williams said that the Ofce of Greek Life was “extremely helpful” and “very welcoming” throughout the process, adding that the OGL was always willing to provide support for him and the other three petitioners.

Gamse added that he is “beyond thrilled” at the re-establishment of Omega Psi Phi.

“The members have worked very hard to get the fraternity back [to the College,]” Gamse said. “The times that I’ve spent with them have been incredible.”

Williams said that Omega Psi Phi is currently planning a step show during this year’s Green Key weekend with the other National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations on campus. The organization is also planning to collaborate with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive and other events, such as barbecues and study groups, Williams added.

Jones also noted that Omega Psi Phi will be collaborating with Delta Sigma Theta to organize more community events.

“We want to show our enthusiasm … we’re back, we’re here for good and trying to show everyone the good side of our fraternity and bring everyone along with us,” Jones said.

Williams also said that the local chapter will take part in a district conference with other regional chapters of the fraternity from April 20 to April 23 in New Haven, Connecticut, where members will discuss how Omega Psi Phi can engage with campus communities.

“We’ve been gone [from Dartmouth] for over 30 years, so the biggest thing we have to lean on is our support system from other members of the fraternity who have been around longer than us,” Williams said.