Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has called on Louisiana State University (LSU) to erect a statue of Charlie Kirk on its campus, framing the initiative as a symbolic defense of free speech. During a Monday evening rally at LSU with the school’s Turning Point USA chapter, Landry challenged the LSU board of supervisors to find a place for the monument, stating that the gesture could position the university as a pioneer in preserving free expression on campuses. The move coincides with broader efforts to expand conservative influence on college campuses, following recent clashes over the recognition of Turning Point USA chapters at other institutions.
Landry was at LSU for a rally with the school’s Turning Point USA chapter, where he emphasized the importance of curiosity and truth-seeking in education. Over 1,500 attendees gathered for the event, which also featured conservative best-selling author and podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey. Landry’s challenge to LSU reflects his broader strategy to promote conservative values in academic settings, particularly in the aftermath of recent rejections of TPUSA chapters at other universities, such as Loyola University New Orleans.
The call for the Charlie Kirk statue comes in the wake of a recent controversy at Loyola University New Orleans, where a student government body denied a newly-formed Turning Point USA chapter the status of an official student organization. The decision, made on October 15, means that the chapter will not have access to school resources, including space for campus events. While the university maintains that the decision followed a student-led process, critics argue that the rejection of TPUSA reflects a broader ideological conflict on campus, with some students expressing concerns about the organization’s values.
At the Loyola student government meeting, a freshman named Rosalina Framboise reportedly raised concerns about TPUSA’s alignment with the university’s Jesuit values, stating that the organization’s leaders and supporters are in direct opposition to these principles. Another unidentified student claimed that Kirk and TPUSA promote