University spokesman Joe Miksch said the College Republicans were responsible for the fee, as “consistent with University guidelines,” but the University would waive it due to the high cost to the club.

Free speech rights are among the most debated topics on college campuses across the country. But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, FIRE, put free speech issues into numbers in a report last month.

After Pitt charged YAF with a $5,000 security fee for its planned Ben Shapiro speech, the conservative group threatened legal action, alleging the fee is unconstitutional.