Oakland University investigating student’s ‘execute’ social media post about GOP candidate

By Sarah Atwood, MediaNews Group

An Oakland College scholar is beneath investigation for a social media put up that Oakland County Republicans stated “overtly referred to as for the execution of a Republican congressional candidate,” the college stated in a put up on X.

The college stated in a collection of messages Thursday that Michael Steger, candidate for the Michigan eleventh Congressional District, and others had reached out to specific issues a couple of social media put up that included a photograph of Steger campaigning on the college’s campus in Rochester. The college didn’t present extra particulars however stated police are actively investigating the issues.

Within the put up, college officers stated scholar privateness legal guidelines forestall them from commenting on actions involving any scholar. The college continued to say that whereas it stays “firmly dedicated to defending First Modification rights,” it “is not going to tolerate violence, precise threats or illegal harassment,” and that it condemns hate speech.

Oakland College police stated Sunday that they had no remark and referred a reporter to the college’s Advertising and marketing and Communications division. Director of Media Relations Brian Bierley didn’t instantly reply to a message on Sunday.

Oakland County Republican Celebration Chairman Vance Patrick stated in an

Patrick referred to as for the scholar’s expulsion.

A screenshot of an Instagram story with the account title “@puppyjinn” accompanied Patrick’s assertion and was posted to X by different conservatives. The put up exhibits Steger and one other man on the Oakland campus with two arrows pointing at them and the textual content “can we do these two issues?” The Instagram profile can not be seen.

Steger is operating for the seat within the Democratic-leaning district of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Birmingham Democrat who’s now operating for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, which can open after Sen. Gary Peters introduced earlier this 12 months that he wouldn’t run for an additional six-year time period. Sen. Jeremy Moss of Southfield and retired Ford engineer Don Ufford of Bloomfield Township are operating within the major to switch Stevens.

The eleventh District contains components of Oakland County together with Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Commerce Township, Farmington, Ferndale, Lake Angelus, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Troy, Waterford, West Bloomfield Township, White Lake Township and Wixom.

Michigan universities have been the scene of debates and controversies surrounding free speech, hate speech and misconduct.

Professional-Palestinian scholar activists and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, have accused the College of Michigan of “anti-Palestinian repression” because the UM Workplace of Scholar Battle Decision charged college students with disciplinary violations this summer season over the UM Diag encampment and different protests in 2024. UM officers stated they’re calling for wouldn’t touch upon disciplinary points for privateness causes, however the regents have stated they welcome civil demonstrations. and conduct, however would reply to disruptions of campus occasions and actions that violate college guidelines.

Michigan State College scholar Eli Folts is beneath investigation for a protest at a Sparticipation in August the place President Kevin Guskiewicz spoke and was confronted a number of instances by demonstrators. Guskiewicz requested the scholars to cease after he got here off stage, saying this was not the time or place for a protest, however the college students continued when the president took the stage for the second time and adopted him after he completed. MSU officers declined to touch upon the grievance towards Folts.

Initially printed: October 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM EDT