The potential launch of a Turning Point USA chapter at Northwestern State University of Louisiana has sparked discussion among students and faculty in the last few months.

TPUSA describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to restoring traditional American values like patriotism and respect for life, liberty, family and fiscal responsibility through conservative activism on high school and college campuses around the country.

Dutch Kor, a junior biology major and the TPUSA chapter president, explained there was a large increase in the number of individuals in their chapter following the assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University at a TPUSA campus event.

The process to become a Recognized Student Organization (RSO) had already been set in motion before Kirk’s death. The conversation surrounding the chapter is part of a broader national and state-wide movement long before NSU’s participation.

“With TPUSA chapters popping up all over the state’s college campuses, I feel that this welcomes an exchange of ideas that will ultimately lead to a positive outcome,” Kor said. 

As found in a Potpourri yearbook, the last known politically driven organization at NSU was the College Democrats in 2005. Currently, many students at NSU are concerned about the future of TPUSA on-campus. 

“Personally, I believe this will foster more hate and negativity amongst our campus rather than love and positivity,” said Violet Hawkins-Fisher, a freshman liberal arts major, who believes this is not the place nor time to start a chapter.

“I came here because no matter, race, orientation or religion, NSU is a safe space for all. TPUSA supports the opposite,” she added. “It focuses on religious points for a singular party, and refuses to acknowledge certain religions or sexual orientations.”

Marchelle Washington, a sophomore English major, said this is not the type of organization she wants to be associated with.

“I just believe that Turning Point follows the belief of a hateful man, so by proxy the people a part of that organization perpetuates those some hateful and ignorant beliefs,” Washington said. 

But Kor said TPUSA plans to educate the community on conservative values without supporting particular candidates. “I want everyone to know a lot of people are having misconceptions about TPUSA. They believe that it’s a right-wing propaganda machine,” he added. “At the end of the day, we want to inform, educate and have a conversation.”

The Committee on Organizations will decide Wednesday, Nov. 19, whether TPUSA can officially be an RSO at NSU. The hearing will not be open to the public and is for Committee on Organizations and potential RSO members only.

As reported by Inside Higher Ed, TPUSA received 62,000 requests from students around the nation interested in starting a new chapter or getting involved with an existing chapter in the first eight days after Kirk’s death.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry challenged Louisiana State University in October to put a statue of Kirk on the Baton Rouge campus. Landry criticized Loyola University one day after for denying TPUSA’s application to become an official chartered organization in New Orleans.

The movement at NSU gained steam in recent weeks with TPUSA hosting two informational tabling events on Oct. 7 and Nov. 4 on Kyser Brickway, with students and faculty discussing the potential chapter. Trevor O’Bannon, assistant director of student engagement, confirmed that every potential RSO is allowed two tabling events to get their name out.

In 2023, students tried to start a Turning Point chapter but never went through the process to become an RSO at NSU. Kor explained that the decision to revise the chapter, advised by assistant biology professor Joseph Straub, started after a Turning Point Bayou Field representative reached out to him in early August.

Kor said the attention surrounding the chapters at LSU and Loyola is leaving a positive impact on the movement. “I have encountered individuals with views that differ from mine,” he said. “However, I don’t discourage them.”

Madysen Morgan, a senior business administration major and Student Government Association (SGA) president, addressed the student body’s reaction to the chapter.

“Turning Point has followed all the rules, I’d say the same for any organization. If they follow the rules and they have a common interest, there’s nothing in the handbook that tells them that they can’t be an RSO,” Morgan said.

O’Bannon said students interested in starting an RSO can schedule a meeting that will determine, among other things, how the proposed organization benefits the campus and student body. After that meeting, all potential RSOs must sit down with the Committee on Organizations to review their constitution and bylaws. During this step, the committee also considers whether the proposed organization has a clear role and purpose on-campus.

The Committee on Organizations is made up of five faculty representatives from several departments: Eddie Horton, Elizabeth Purcell, Paula Christensen, Anna Upshaw and Ryan Wright. Three student representatives from University Programming Council and SGA, both governing body organizations, sit in the hearing: Thomas Perryman, Christian James and Kirsten Knobloch.

While the policy NSU implements for the RSO process is specific to the university, it is similar to other institutions in the University of Louisiana System. O’Bannon explained that as a public university, NSU must abide by every federal law—including the freedom of speech and assembly.

“We have to ensure that the voices of students are heard and represented,” O’Bannon said, adding that students who oppose an organization at NSU can start a “counter organization.”

“If you are upset about something, you have the ability to amplify your voice as well through an organization, and I’m happy to help start these things,” O’Bannon added.

After visiting the table in November, Grace Penny, a senior biology major, learned more about the chapter’s mission. She said it’s valuable for students to have spaces where they can connect with others who share their beliefs and perspectives.

“Creating a TPUSA chapter will give students an opportunity to engage in discussions, express their views and build a sense of community around shared values,” Penny said. “I believe and have seen that conservative students are often viewed differently on-campus, so having a space where we can be supported and surrounded by like-minded peers is very important.”

Lexie Alberes, a junior accounting major, said the potential chapter is a great idea to get people talking. She added that conversations will be supported with evidence and facts, while actively listening from others and considering other points of view.

“Charlie Kirk has always said that when people stop talking, that is when war strikes and controversies start. I would like to see debates about gun laws in our state, gender and sexuality, abortion, and immigration laws,” Alberes said. “I feel strongly that as a society, we need to practice free speech. I think the launching of a TPUSA chapter will spark optimistic conversation, challenge the ideas of others and respectfully consider the standpoint of peers.”