Fort Lewis College (FLC) is denying a TPUSA chapter after several efforts to establish one were met with backlash and dismissal by the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College board.

The student leading this initiative, Jonah Flynn, said he was inspired to start a chapter after the assassination of TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, according to the Durango Herald. 

In October, over 400 students signed a petition in opposition to a TPUSA chapter being established on campus. The petition alleges that TPUSA “has engaged in actions that directly harm our community.” 

“At a college where many students identify as Indigenous, students of color, LGBTQ+, or from other underrepresented backgrounds, this harm cannot be ignored. We are calling on Fort Lewis College to take action that prioritizes student safety and well-being by refusing to recognize the TPUSA chapter as an RSO,” the petition further states.

Flynn gave a PowerPoint address before the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College board last Wednesday, endeavoring to explain his intentions and argue why the college should have a TPUSA chapter. However, he was unable to convince the board, as its seven senators ultimately voted against the chapter’s establishment, still finding the organization contrary to the college’s morals and a threat to student safety.

In his persistence to establish a chapter, Flynn prefers to do so without recourse to legal means. 

“I mean, we have a lot of people that are in the background that are saying they would love to sponsor us to do a lawsuit, but I’m trying to do it sort of the Christian way and go little by little, like go up the chain,” Flynn said.

Students in favor of an FLC TPUSA chapter filed a petition through Change.org, detailing why they seek to launch a chapter and the peaceful efforts they have taken to accomplish that goal. 

“Despite peaceful intentions and respect for Fort Lewis policies, TPUSA’s application to become a registered student organization (RSO) has been denied by the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (ASFLC),” the petition states. “Asa Worthington, the Student Board President hearing the TPUSA RSO case argued ‘many of our morals and interests must be pushed to the side’ and that ‘the safety of our student body and the FLC community has always been and always will be ASFLC’s top priority.’ Fearing that the extensive opposition to TPUSA’s presence at FLC–who have already harassed and threatened violence against this TPUSA chapter–would be enflamed and more likely to commit violence if TPUSA’s application for the RSO status was approved.”

Over 1,000 signatures have been attached to the petition.

Throughout this process, students opposed to TPUSA on campus vandalized and took down flyers, demeaning the image of Charlie Kirk and writing offensive political slogans across them.