Oakland Co. Republican Party Wants OU Student Expelled Over 'Dangerous' Social Media Post About GOP Candidate

ROCHESTER, MI — The head of the Oakland County Republican Party is calling for an Oakland University student to be expelled after he said the student posted a threatening message against a Republican politician campaigning on campus.

Oakland County Republican Party Chairman Vance Patrick said the Instagram post showed a photo of congressional candidate Mike Steger on campus last Thursday with a red arrow pointed to him and another man with the caption "Can we execute these two things?"

"This kind of rhetoric is not just unacceptable," Oakland County Republican Party Chairman Vance Patrick said in a statement. "It is dangerous, criminal and has absolutely no place in our community or on any campus."

Patrick went on to say the incident is not the first time Oakland University students and staff have targeted Republicans. He said students and staff previously disrupted a prayer vigil in memory of Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk by throwing bags of thrash at mourners. He also said they made reference to snipers in relation to Kirk's assassination.

"When there are no consequences for this kind of behavior, it is tantamount to condoning it and contributing to the dangerous rhetoric that has led to violence against the country," Patrick said.

University officials said Steger, who is running for Michigan's 11th Congressional District in 2026, and multiple others contacted them about the post. They said officials are investigating the post.

"While the university remains firmly committed to protecting First Amendment rights, the university will not tolerate violence, actual threats or unlawful harassment," university officials said. "In addition, while hate speech may be protected by the First Amendment, Oakland University condemns such speech as it does not align with the university’s values."

Officials have not released the identity of the person who made the post.