Taylor University REJECTS Turning Point USA Chapter
The Taylor University Student Senate in Indiana has formally barred the Turning Point USA chapter on campus from becoming a registered student organization.
After assurance from the University Provost, Dr. Hammond, and the VP of Student Development, Dr. Trudeau, that the chapter would have “no problems trying to get approved,” the student senate voted against the chapter almost immediately.
“Not once in our presentation to the student senate were we questioned about the ‘divisive rhetoric’ of Turning Point USA. The TPUSA mission statement reads ‘to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote freedom'” says Peter Crow, chapter leader. “Turning Point USA does not seek to divide our country. The senate has shown that they will meet any disagreement with silencing and do not stand for freedom of speech.”
In the student senate’s rejection letter to students seeking formal recognition, senate officials cited:
“1) An unwillingness to dissociate from TPUSA. Expressed that funding and connections from TPUSA were
vital to the club’s existence.
2) The affiliation of Taylor University with an organization who’s employs divisive rhetoric.
3) Concerns that the mission and actions of TPUSA as a national organization do not accomplish unique
goals that political clubs, like AEI, already provide.
As you can imagine, their concerns and reasons for not allowing a formal chapter are based on zero evidence and they have provided nothing to substantiate these “concerns.”
TPUSA at Taylor University has experienced notable success even before applying for formal recognition on campus, consistently drawing 60+ students to club meetings and encouraging students from all points on the political spectrum to use their voices to make a difference in their community.
While a rejection in this vein is hardly surprising and as more and more campuses bar TPUSA chapters from recognition, it’s certainly a vague and pathetic excuse for denying registered student organization status at Taylor University.
To our Taylor students in Indiana, we at TPUSA HQ are with you! Keep up the fight for freedom of speech on campus and keep working hard to share conservative voices!
