Tim Tai, Senior Photographer

Yale College Republicans, a newly revived undergraduate group, is committed to representing the Republican Party on campus. Founded by Manu Anpalagan ’26 in January 2024, the group plans to host watch parties for debates and run discussion tables promoting campus political dialogue. 

Anpalagan said his main goal for the club is to show that conservatives have common ground and can engage in open dialogue with people across the political spectrum. 

“I really want people – especially those who are not conservative – to know that we don’t want confrontation. I know that in the media right now and in real-world politics it’s very heated,” Anpalagan said. “But, that’s not who we are. We just want to be able to have a conversation that includes viewpoints that are different from the vast majority of campus.” 

The Yale College Republicans Constitution, written by Anpalagan, outlines its purposes, procedures and membership requirements of the organization. It begins with the preamble, “Recognizing that an organization is needed to represent and promote the Republican Party at Yale University.” 

The constitution further recognizes the affiliation of Yale College Republicans to both the Republican National Committee and the College Republicans of America.

In its mission statement, Yale College Republicans state three primary goals: to recruit and train young conservatives, to work to get Republicans elected and to mobilize young people in defense of conservative values. 

But, Anpalagan said, this election season, the Yale Republicans have no plans to campaign or canvas for local or national elections. 

“It’s partly because there’s not really much we can get done in the state of Connecticut or in like neighboring states, but that also takes a lot of money, which we obviously don’t currently have,” he said. “So those are things that we’re definitely interested in doing in the future, but this election cycle, we’re not planning on doing any specific work for a particular candidate, whether it’s local or national level.” 

Instead, the group is focused on growing membership and campus presence.  Anpalagan told the News that currently about 1o members regularly attend the group’s bi-weekly meetings and the email list includes about 100 people. 

Anapalagan said the club is also trying to ramp up fundraising efforts among private and individual donors for future initiatives and events. 

He explained that Yale College Republicans is “struggling a little bit with donations” as a less established club. Current funding for the Yale College Republicans comes from Yale College and the Yale College Council, with imminent funding from College Republicans of America expected. 

Anpalagan was the only member of Yale College Republicans who identifies as a Republican who agreed to speak on the record about the club. Two other board members contacted by the News declined to comment. 

During the 2016 election, a former group named Yale College Republicans endorsed former President Donald Trump, leading to division within the organization. The News was unable to confirm when the original Yale College Republicans disaffiliated. 

Anpalagan also mentioned that the group serves as an accepting space for students in support of Trump and the current GOP, who, he says, can feel ostracized in other conservative groups on campus, such as the Buckley institute.  

“We love Buckley, but Buckley’s more concentrated among the pre-2016 Republican Party than us,” Anpalagan said. “We’re welcoming of them, but we’re also welcoming of those who support former President Trump and the current state of the Republican Party, and a lot of folks at Buckley have an issue with that.” 

Buckley Institute President Trevor MacKay ’25 wrote to the News that Buckley has hosted many speakers who support Trump, including his cabinet members. 

MacKay also added that, last week, Anpalagan confirmed to the Buckley Institute that he will represent the Trump side in a presidential debate that the institute’s podcast plans to host in October. 

“Yes, Buckley has hosted many ‘traditional’ conservatives … but the record is clear that the Buckley Institute has done more to bring conservative voices to Yale’s campus — both from within President Trump’s orbit and without — than any other group throughout the history of President Trump’s political career,” MacKay wrote. 

Anpalagan added that anyone is welcome to come to the Yale Republicans meeting and speak their mind, even the most staunch liberals. 

He said that some liberal-leaning students, and even members of the Yale Democrats, have expressed interest in participating in club events in support of open dialogue between those with different political views. 

Although a member of Yale College Republicans, Cleber Redondo ’26 does not identify as a Republican. 

“It’s fun being at the ground level of something new, and I joined to meet people whose values happen to be most similar to my own, even if I don’t subscribe to their labels or GOP talking points,” Redondo wrote to the News. 

In a statement, Yale Dems wrote to the News that they believe “everyone deserves a space to express their opinions.”

However, they also emphasized their disapproval of Trump and their frustration that Yale College Republicans have yet to denounce the former president.

Yale Dems also wrote that they have no plans to collaborate with Yale Republicans in the near future as they are currently occupied with their own canvassing and election-related initiatives. 

“This election isn’t about Donald Trump. It’s not about Kamala Harris. It’s about lifting up the American people and putting them first,” Anpalagan wrote in response. “The days of playing nice and bowing to the political overlords are over. We are fiercely and unapologetically opposed to the bipartisan establishment that has failed Americans for decades.”

Anpalagan explained that within Yale College Republicans, members have a “diverse set of viewpoints” on many policy issues, mostly between who he calls supporters of the current state of the Republican party and those who favor the older Republican viewpoints of the 80s and the 90s. 

Even on the issue of the upcoming presidential election, Anpalagan said that some members had been more closely aligned with other Republican candidates besides former President Donald Trump. 

Anpalagan explained that although he feels comfortable speaking out about the club and his political alignments he understands why other members of Yale College Republicans might not want to. 

“Obviously we do see a bit of self censoring and a little bit of hesitancy to admit where you stand politically as a conservative,” Anpalagan said. “But I do feel that currently we are seeing people be more open on both sides of the aisle about their beliefs. And I do think people are more willing to have conversations.” 

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.