Although his earlier charges of discrimination against the Duke College Republicans were dismissed, senior Justin Robinette is determined to pursue his case.
In April, Robinette, former chair of the College Republicans, claimed he was impeached from his position because of his sexual orientation. Members of the club, however, said Robinette, who is gay, was removed for other reasons.
Although his earlier charges of discrimination against the Duke College Republicans were dismissed, senior Justin Robinette is determined to pursue his case.
In April, Robinette, former chair of the College Republicans, claimed he was impeached from his position because of his sexual orientation. Members of the club, however, said Robinette, who is gay, was removed for other reasons. The club’s articles of impeachment claimed that Robinette misused funds, fixed elections and neglected his responsibilities as chair.
“All I have ever wanted was to clear my name regarding the untrue accusations,” Robinette said. “I’m glad to be free of an organization which has been associated with such a hostile environment, harassment and discrimination. I look forward to moving on, and I am glad to be free of people who have perpetrated this kind of action.”
In April, the Duke Student Government Judiciary ruled there was not sufficient evidence to convict the College Republicans of discrimination. Robinette, however, said he did not have adequate time to compile evidence and prepare his argument.
Last week, Robinette and eight other plaintiffs filed a new suit against the club in the Judiciary. The eight additional plaintiffs will remain anonymous in the case due to “multiple death threats... fear of physical or blackmail retaliation by DCR officers, the serious nature of the allegations, and a past history of student-on-student anti-gay harassment by DCR Executive Board Officers,” the suit reads.
This time, Robinette has included about 30 pages of e-mails, photos and other forms of evidence that suggest the club discriminated against himself and other former club members.
“In the course of the summer, going through the e-mail record... we [found that] we could prove that the articles of impeachment are false,” said senior Cliff Satell, former vice chair of the College Republicans and one of the plaintiffs. “The reason it was not [last year] is because we were running up to the end of the year... and had 24 to 26 hours to prepare. We didn’t have the time or ability to prepare the best possible case.”
Chief Justice Matt Straus, a junior, said the Judiciary will meet for the first time Sunday to decide whether or not to rehear the case. Although the Judiciary typically does not hear appeals to cases they have previously heard, Straus declined to comment further on the situation.
Club Chair Carter Boyle, a senior, said he is confident that the Judiciary will not rehear the case, adding that he expects the club to run normally this Fall.
“I think the vast majority... of what Justin is submitting is a fabrication of the truth, and I think the whole idea of [anonymous sources] violates due process for us not to confront our accusers,” Boyle said. “Even people who had to testify against Al Capone had to have it in a true judiciary court.”
Robinette said he may also file a case against individuals in the College Republicans in civil court on charges of slander, libel and civil conversion, which is wrongfully using, altering or destroying another person’s property. Robinette claims that the American Civil Liberties Union is currently investigating his case to decide whether or not they will assist him with civil charges. He added that Lambda Legal—a national gay rights organization—is also reviewing the case.
Robinette said harassment continued throughout the summer.
In mid-May, anti-gay graffiti which appeared to be directed at Robinette was discovered on the East Campus Bridge. Although the Duke University Police Department did an initial investigation of the incident, it did not produce any suspects, said Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta. Since then, no progress had been made on the incident.
“We’re determined to support all the students and make clear our objection to any form of hate language and/or behavior,” Moneta wrote in an e-mail Tuesday.
During his time as chairman, however, club members said Robinette was the one who sent threatening e-mails.
“If you think that succession outside of the Constitution is not reversible, if you think that if I step down, the reins will then go to you, Carter, you will have been sorely and entirely mistaken,” Robinette wrote in an e-mail April 13, the day of his impeachment, to Boyle and club Chief of Staff Rachel Provost, a senior. Provost forwarded the e-mail to The Chronicle in April. “I’m going to ask you again to get a life, stay out of trouble with the cops, and stop being a virtual pain every week of my collegiate existence. For real, though, don’t you have class?”
Robinette said he has repeatedly requested intervention from University officials, adding that President Richard Brodhead declined to meet with him.
Over the summer, junior Bridget Gomez started a Facebook group petitioning the administration to take action against the hate speech and DCR. The group has 330 members as of 3 p.m. Thursday, most of whom are Duke students.
Robinette said he hopes to use the open forum at Duke Student Government’s first meeting of the year to strengthen his case. Robinette and other former members of the College Republicans have also had restraining orders in place since May 12 against current club members, Robinette added.
“The entire club was not like this group of people, but I look forward to associating myself with more tolerant people and facets of the community here at Duke,” Robinette said.
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