After over a year of being in limbo, the University of Pennsylvania’s Hunting, Archery, and Shooting Club was officially a recognized student group, thanks to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) as well as FIRE Legal Network Attorney and Co-Chair of the Title IX and Campus Discipline practice Patricia Hamill.
Penn claimed that due to the nature of the mission of the Hunting, Archery, and Shooting Club, it could not make an approval decision until the university resumed operations because of concerns the group would need to meet in person. However, other groups that intended to meet in person, such as the surfing club, were approved. This delayed approval meant the club could not take advantage of university resources, limiting them from fundraising, advertising, hosting virtual events, and growing its membership.
The club received support from the Office of Student Affairs when its registration was approved. “We would like to thank FIRE,” said the group, “our counsel Patricia Hamill and Joe Jesiolowski [of Conrad O’Brien], and everyone else who supported us along the way.”
Learn more about the club’s approval process here or read the FIRE press release here.