Jonah Flynn, a senior at Fort Lewis College, is vowing to fight back against the decision by the student board to deny his proposal for a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter. Flynn described the rejection as an attack on free expression, with the intent to appeal the decision through the Student Court. The student board’s four-hour meeting, attended by over 30 students and community members, saw strong opposition to the TPUSA chapter’s proposal.
Following the meeting, the board’s seven elected senators rejected the proposal to establish the TPUSA chapter. The student body president, Asa Worthington, emphasized that the safety of the student body and the Fort Lewis College community was a top priority. Critics have alleged that Flynn’s plan mirrors TPUSA’s national ‘professor watchlist,’ which has faced backlash, highlighting the potential for conflict in the decision.
Flynn’s effort to start the TPUSA chapter aims to provide access to the school’s facilities for events, and he hopes to host a larger event than the one he held before. The ‘Debate a Conservative’ event was reportedly a success, and the college’s location in La Plata County, which leans heavily for Kamala Harris, adds a political dimension to the controversy.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has sparked nationwide interest in establishing new TPUSA chapters, including at Fort Lewis College. Flynn expressed his distress over the incident, stating it motivated him to continue despite the backlash. While he anticipated some level of resistance, the intensity of the opposition has been unexpected.
Following the denial, a petition seeking to have the TPUSA chapter recognized as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) received over 1,000 signatures. The petition argues that the rejection constitutes a violation of the U.S. Constitution and the school’s student body constitution. Flynn remains hopeful that the college will reconsider its decision, believing that the incident could lead to greater awareness of the rights at stake.
Fort Lewis College officials have not yet responded to the situation, leaving the outcome of the appeal uncertain. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding free speech and campus activism, with both supporters and critics of TPUSA voicing their positions. The controversy is expected to continue as discussions unfold and the appeal process progresses.