A recently surfaced video from a member of a conservative group at a private Pennsylvania university shows students destroying promotional flyers. The Young America Foundation (YAF) chapter at Gettysburg College had invited conservative author Vince Ellison to speak on November 20. Days prior, they had posted advertisements around campus.
However, Tyler Seaman, the YAF President, stated that students who opposed conservative views have a history of tearing down their announcements—an incident caught on camera this time. “At Gettysburg YAF, we host lectures every semester, inviting speakers from the YAF list to discuss their expertise,” Seaman shared.
In the video, a YAF member, witnessing a student removing flyers, engaged him as he hurried away. “Are you having fun?” they asked. The student just replied, “Yes.” When confronted about the violation of university policy, the student seemed caught off guard, saying “Okay” and then falling silent.
After the flyer incident, YAF members attempted to hold the student accountable for not leaving the premises. “We have more of them—want to go get that too in the stairwell?” one member asked. The student hesitated, responding with, “I don’t know.” Eventually, YAF personnel escorted him out.
Seaman explained that their chapter is often singled out for this kind of disruption. “Every semester, students tear up our flyers because we are the only conservative organization on campus that hosts events. Some feel our views are contrary to theirs or potentially harmful.”
He described the school’s attitude as “indifferent,” noting that administrators sometimes condemned disruptive actions but rarely followed through with consequences against the offenders. A spokesperson from Gettysburg College confirmed that removing properly posted flyers goes against community standards and can lead to university sanctions.
While federal law restricts officials from discussing specific student cases, White added that unsanctioned conduct of this kind is unusual.
Seaman had a message for those who oppose their views: “Instead of tearing up flyers, come to our events and engage in dialogue. We want to discuss these issues because it’s important for everyone to think about them, rather than just silencing others.”
In another incident, a student named Justin Calhoun was accused of knocking over a YAF table on October 27, leading to his arrest days later on charges including disorderly conduct. He was reportedly arrested again for a similar incident involving a Turning Point USA table.
