This past week, I took a trip to North Carolina and visited the Turning Point USA chapter at Western Carolina University. Under the watchful care and direct supervision of TPUSA field representative, Cameron Hembree, this chapter has gained so much notoriety. Recently, the chapter on campus made national headlines while taking a stand against harmful race and gender ideology.
The Turning Point chapter has gotten a lot of attention from fellow conservatives, but has also been met with heavy opposition. When I first arrived on campus, I was happily greeted by the chapter president, Marques Stanfield. Though he is quiet in nature, Standfield walks with a character that calls for respect, he wears a three piece suit daily to put himself in the correct mindset, and is continuously working hard. The chapter’s executive board member, Jay Mayberry, (a 6’10 rugby player) knows how to ward-off protestors by simply standing in their way, calm and collected.
While setting up for my event, two officers came unexpectedly into the room. They made it clear that when Turning Point USA hosts events, they tend to see a heavy turnout of protestors, and needed to ensure that the students who wanted to be present had the chance to, without feeling threatened by classmates. I have so much respect for our law enforcement, and truly appreciated their preparedness beforehand.
Some students joining us were excited to be apart of their first event with the chapter, others were self-proclaimed socialists who were there to as questions. I appreciated their willingness to participate in civil debate on some fundamental American values. Ultimately, these students left feeling challenged, and even agreed to come to a future chapter meeting.
Considering the growth that student chapters are experiencing, it is without a doubt that this next generation will be the one to bring us out of the moral decline we find ourselves in.
