When the Oklahoma State University chapter of Young Americans for Freedom sought to use PhilanthroPete, an Oklahoma State University interactive crowdfunding platform operated by the Oklahoma State University Foundation, the students quickly faced pushback for plainly stating biological reality.

In an Oct. 14 email sent to the Oklahoma State Young Americans for Freedom, an official with the OSU Foundation wrote, “While reviewing your PhilanthroPete page we noticed one of your carousel photos featured a sign with the phrase, ‘Men cannot become women.’ We are requesting that his photo be removed from your project page.”

The email later discussed the removal request, stating, “Some page visitors may view projects on PhilanthroPete as the OSU Foundation endorsing particular viewpoints, programs, activities, etc. As such, the OSU Foundation cannot appear to be taking a specific stance on political, social or religious topics.”

The email claimed the foundation would similarly request the removal of any photo expressing the opposite view—that men can become women.

The Oklahoma State Young Americans for Freedom is a “conservative organization which helps educate students on the values that America was built on across campus by spreading knowledge about free speech, free enterprise, and inalienable rights.”

PhilanthroPete is Oklahoma State University’s interactive crowdfunding platform. The website for the service states, “On PhilanthroPete, you can join Cowboys and Cowgirls to participate in the power of collective giving. PhilanthroPete projects support campus programs, faculty research, new ideas or sustaining time-tested plans for the university. The very definition of PhilanthroPete is the Cowboy family coming together for the love of OSU.”

The site says those eligible to use the service include OSU “academic departments, campus units, and student organizations registered or recognized with the Department of Campus Life.” Approved projects must be “led by students, faculty, or staff members and benefit Oklahoma State University.”

Fundraising projects are reviewed by a committee composed of OSU Foundation staff and Student Foundation leadership.

The OSU Foundation’s website describes it as “the private fundraising organization for Oklahoma State University, as designated by the OSU Board of Regents.”

The foundation reports having a staff of nearly 200 and lists more than 300 individuals on its board of governors.

While the OSU Foundation balked at Oklahoma State Young Americans for Freedom’s expression of biological reality, claiming it conflicted with the foundation’s desire to avoid appearing supportive of any specific political position, the foundation has allowed other groups involved with politics to use the PhilanthroPete service.

In May, the OSU College Democrats were among the groups fundraising through the site.

In an April Facebook post, the OSU College Democrats encouraged donors to support their PhilantroPete fundraiser, writing, “Time is almost out! The OSU College Democrats need YOUR help during this crucial election year to aid Stillwater Democrats getting elected this fall.”

Posts from the group also identify OSU College Democrat officers by individual names and pronouns, including “they/them.”

Similarly, in March 2023, a “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) fundraiser was posted on the site along with a fundraiser for the OSU College Democrats. An associated post for the “diversity” fundraiser, conducted by officials with the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, stated, “Our mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs for our students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff.”

College DEI programs have come under growing scrutiny in recent years due to concerns that they foster an atmosphere of division and often involve violations of students’ constitutional rights, including violation of equal-protection rights and free speech.