UW College Republicans move out of campus space after losing club status

After the College Republican National Committee asked the University of Washington to remove the UW College Republicans' status as a registered student organization, members had to be out of their meeting space Monday.

The club used to meet in a small office in the basement of the Husky Union Building, sharing the space with the UW Young Democrats.

"On one side is our office with a bunch of posters and the other is kind of very blank concrete walls," said Peter Matulich, president of the UW Young Democrats.

Matulich said the school made these two groups share this office.

"They really occupied the office a lot more than us, I want to say," Matulich said. "They kind of used it just to like hang out in-between classes, so they were kind of always here."

But on Monday the Republicans moved out after the College Republican National Committee pulled their membership, calling the club's actions hurtful and inappropriate.

The group has hosted far right groups like Patriot Prayer, and this spring held a bake sale with prices based on a student's skin color.

In 2017 a man was shot and injured at protests outside an event hosted by the UW College Republicans that featured Milo Yiannopoulos, a right-wing provocateur.

Matulich said he hasn't been told who might move into the old office space but has heard a group called the Husky College Republicans will be the new recognized chapter.

On social media the UW College Republicans threatened legal action against the national committee.

The president of the group declined to comment.