Turning Point USA has been re-recognized by Chico State. There has been a mixture of responses to the club being reinstated, but the club aims to provide a supportive community for like-minded students.
Those with conservative values are encouraged to join, said TPUSA Chico President Addie Snyder.
“If you hold like-minded ideals, it’s great,” Snyder said. “Everyone here is friendly. No one’s gonna turn you away.”
The club is looking for students who hold conservative and patriotic views.
“I love the Constitution. The Constitution is the greatest document ever written and America is one of the greatest countries to ever be founded.” Snyder said.
They feel as if there is a misconception that only Christians can join the chapter because Charlie Kirk was active in his faith, but that is not the case.
“Anyone of any religion can join Turning Point. But we do have Turning Point Faith I think we’re hoping to implement,” Snyder said.
Turning Point Faith is a subset of the TPUSA organization whose goal is to “to unite the Church around primary doctrine and to eliminate wokeism from the American pulpit,” according to their official website.
Though the club just restarted, they are planning to table Tuesdays throughout the rest of the semester to gain members. They plan on doing a snow cone social before the end of the school year.
“We’re hoping to start right off the bat come fall semester,” Snyder said. They will officially start with monthly club meetings next school year.
“I think free speech actually means a lot,” said Vice President Mimi Burchett. “I think our organization is trying to bring that to the campus, to have debates, to be supportive of each other, even though maybe someone else might have another opinion.”
Though they are looking forward to starting the chapter, they have faced several criticisms on Instagram regarding their reinstatement. They said they have thick skin and it doesn’t really bother them.
“Your faith has to be stronger than that. So bless their hearts. We’re praying for you and move on; you can’t be held up on what negativity may come,” Burchett said.
However, on campus, Chico State Democrats support TPUSA’s use of free speech despite differing political views.
Chico State Democrat President Zion Fozo stated the TPUSA Chapter has a right to exist on campus and expects mutual respect.
Chico State Democrats are open to collaboration, dialogue or Socratic debate to share different political beliefs, Zion stated.
“Freedom of speech and expression, however, does not mean freedom from response,” Zion stated. “If the TPUSA Chapter makes a statement the Chico State Democrats disagree with, then we, as the Chico State Democrats, have the right to respond through peaceful speech.”
To start the process of reinstating the chapter, Snyder found the campus chapter on Instagram and contacted the previous advisor, Director at the Meat Labs Haydn Clement, after the prior officers either graduated or stepped away from the organization.
Over four months, from November to January, they completed mandatory paperwork and training. Then the club was officially re-recognized and started building membership through tabling.
“This is a great way for students to just show up and they can see other students and make friends and not have to worry about saying the wrong thing to other people,” Snyder said. “It is a great way to make friends without having to worry about who they’re talking to.”
Clement said that when he was asked by a group of students to be the advisor, he immediately accepted, as he believes shared speech and thoughts around political points are important for college-age students.
Aiden Masson and Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]
