Turning Point USA disbands its Cal Lutheran chapter
November 1, 2021
California Lutheran University’s chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a national nonprofit started by conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, hosted a tabling event on the spine Wednesday Oct. 20 that left some members of the Cal Lutheran community feeling distraught over the club’s views and opinions. As of Monday, Oct. 25, the organization decided to disaffiliate themselves from the university.
Before this event, many people were unaware of this club’s existence on campus.
In a now deleted Instagram post, TPUSA was pictured standing at the spine near Ullman Commons on the day of their event. Members of the club were holding posters with sayings such as “Big Government Scares,” “Let’s get this bread! Because in a socialist country you can’t,” and “I’m pro choice. Pick your gun.”
Social media played a role
Many students took to social media to express their feelings towards the views shared by the club.
Maya Fleming, a senior senator for Associated Students of California Lutheran University Government (ASCLUG), made a post on her Instagram story saying that TPUSA’s pro-gun poster was insensitive as it pertains to a community that was affected by gun violence three years ago.
In an email interview, she said she received over 400 views and had people reply in agreement.
“As a student who actually attended the university during Borderline, remembering the fear and shock that I felt during that entire ordeal wondering if my friends were okay, if anyone I knew was hurt,” Fleming said. “It was scary to see something like that promoted on campus especially so close to the anniversary,” Fleming said.
Junior Chloe Sulewski also shared a post on their Instagram story regarding the ideas shared by TPUSA.
“All the people that responded to it and the people who reposted it were kind of just like on the same wavelength as me of like, you know, this is so insensitive, this is so embarrassing, this is very angering, like, why was this allowed in the first place,” Sulewski said.
Sulewski said she talked to other people who also took issue with how one of the posters mocked the pro-choice movement.
Besides individual students, a new Instagram account called @clu_united created by an anonymous member of the community encouraged people to reach out to the Associated Students of California Lutheran University Government and Student Life with concerns about the club on Oct. 22.
Cal Lutheran’s TPUSA chapter made their Instagram account private after multiple incidents of students posting and tagging the account to voice their discontent.
TPUSA’s status as a club
There were questions about how the chapter was approved by ASCLUG and Student Life.
Director of Student Life Andrea Layne said in an email interview that clubs looking to be approved get a high level overview from Student Life before it is presented to ASCLUG’s Senate, who then checks if the club has met the minimum requirements.
The Echo reached out to Coordinator of Orientation and Student Engagement Leylani Orozco on Oct. 23 to comment on the approval process TPUSA went through but received no response.
In an email interview, ASCLUG President Josh Gatison said the Senate considers what a new club might bring to campus compared to existing clubs.
TPUSA’s chapter was approved by the Senate on Sept. 13, 2021, as confirmed by Gatison.
According to a transcript from the aforementioned meeting, the representative proposing the club said that TPUSA is nonpartisan, would not participate in campaigning activities and does not “associate with any political party.”
Fleming said that her impression of the club when it was proposed was that they would create a place for students to learn about jobs, economic development and potential leadership opportunities. Her perspective on the club changed after learning what the national organization’s views entailed.
“Firstly, while claiming to be a non-partisan org. a lot of their views align directly with the republican party,” Fleming said. “The actual overhead organization also has beliefs rooted in racism, xenophobia and homophobia and all of this information is accessible through their website as in the first few pages so it would be impossible for them to claim it is untrue.”
On Monday Oct. 25, ASCLUG shared a statement on their Instagram announcing that the executive board met with TPUSA, and the club decided they would disaffiliate from Cal Lutheran.
The statement also said that the officers of the club were, “apologetic for any negative impact that was caused by the tabling event,” and that they, “never intended to cause harm to the CLU community.”
“This was something that was decided by the students of TPUSA,” Gatison said.
TPUSA’s Instagram now reflects that they are a Thousand Oaks chapter after their decision to disaffiliate from the school.
The Echo reached out to TPUSA’s president for comment on Oct. 22, 25 and 29 but received no response.
Fleming said that TPUSA disbanding on campus will give students peace of mind knowing that they can live in their identities without hearing hate speech and rhetoric that advocates against their rights.
“It should never be a right to hold and express views that directly impose on the existence of another person EVER and if people had a little more compassion for others rather than only what is in their personal best interest, the world would be a much happier place,” Fleming said.
Chrissy • Nov 4, 2021 at 10:51 pm
Imagine being so dumb that you’d be a slave to a millionaire. News flash, Charlie Kirk doesn’t care about you. Turning Point promotes “capitalism”, but do you want to know the real reason he wants to promote Capitalism? Because if you, as a worker, are okay not even making a living wage, guess what millionaires make money by ripping you, the worker, off. Honestly it is embarrassing that you would want to be a subject to a rich man in hopes you may be successful but at best you’ll be a dentist?!? Sell insurance!?!? Wake up and stop being a sheep 🙂
Isaiah • Nov 2, 2021 at 5:56 pm
Great to hear!
Tina • Nov 2, 2021 at 10:14 am
I am “distraught” that a college campus cannot tolerate varied opinions, political or otherwise. I am “distraught” that students are not only “distraught” by differing viewpoints, but that they bully them into submission. I am “distraught” that the college allows this to happen. I am “distraught” that the college seems apologetic for even letting the club form on campus.
The article says, “Firstly, while claiming to be a non-partisan org. a lot of their views align directly with the republican party,” Does a club have to be apolitical to form on campus?
The article goes on to say, “The actual overhead organization also has beliefs rooted in racism, xenophobia and homophobia and all of this information is accessible through their website as in the first few pages so it would be impossible for them to claim it is untrue.” So I had a look at the Turning Point USA website: https://www.tpusa.com/about Hmmmm, I don’t see anything racist, xenophobic, or homophobic.
I am “distraught” that some colleges and students – in their effort to be tolerant, virtuous, kind and welcoming to all viewpoints – are anything but.
Maya Fleming • Nov 2, 2021 at 11:33 am
Hi! a lot of the pieces of the article you quoted were direct quotes from me so i’ll go ahead and clarify to make it a little easier on you. First of all, there ARE organizations on campus that are party specific. We actually have a fully operational republican club here that no one ever has any problems with. The issue is not the party affiliation the issue is the LIE on being nonpartisan while directly aligning with views of a specific party which i’m sure you understood but for the sake of being obtuse, ignored. The fact the club had to lie about their political affiliation and actual purpose in order to be able to operate on campus tells me not that they were afraid of being republican or conservative (we already have that club remember? just trying to make sure you’re still following) but that they were afraid for other reasons.. (i wonder what that might be). As far as the beliefs rooted in racism, in an article about LAUSD removing police officers from schools there is the mentioning of Black students need for law and order and how police in schools are necessary to teach them to respect authority. Riddle me this, how often do they send police officers into these PWI’s to teach white students law and order and the respect for authority? Now tell me the percentage of school shootings that have happened in the last 10 years orchestrated by a Black student in a predominantly Black school? Okay, now quickly explain to me a valid reason police are needed in Black schools for law and order that has nothing to do with either a personal racial bias or stereotype pertaining directly to their blackness. While i could continue the same you read this article, you can go do your own research and read THEIRS. I have to go to class.
Jeff • Jan 31, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Such condescension. Shame on you Maya.