A new Turning Point USA chapter officially filed to become a student organization last week, according to Sienna Wraith, SGA’s parliamentarian.
The right-wing nonprofit advocacy group founded by Charlie Kirk was a flash point on campus earlier this semester, after local member Colin Dowd set up a table on behalf of the organization in front of Village Park. Video from the table of students verbally insulting Dowd, and even stealing one of his signs, circulated online and received a litany of transphobic and homophobic comments.
Students visiting the table condemned Turning Point, almost entirely because of its hateful political leanings. Kirk himself, who was assassinated last September while speaking at a university in Utah, constantly decried perceived threats to “white Christian America.” He also advocated for gay people to be stoned “to death” and frequently called for the overturn of many hate crime convictions.
But some students signed Dowd’s petition to create a Turning Point chapter on campus. Now, they have around 10 to 15 signatures to make it official.
Turning Point’s constitution wasn’t yet voted on, though, out of a need for revisions. Wraith said the constitution’s non-discrimination clause was missing language on both sexual identity and gender orientation — two pieces required by SAIL’s club guidelines.
Wraith said they are meeting with a leader of the club Tuesday this week to discuss the matter further. The constitution is anticipated to be new business next Monday.
SGA didn’t discuss any new business this week, but did debate how to spend its remaining budget of $5,000.
Senators discussed a swath of ideas, from new staplers in the Thayer computer lab to a new pool table for recreational use by students.
It was ultimately decided that a refresh for the smoking area behind West Penn Hall, general restock of supplies for use by students and professors and a study room could all potentially be final expenditures for the remaining money.
Vice President Madigan Balfe invited the legislature to discuss the matter further during its executive cabinet meeting, which The Globe did not attend.
The results of last week’s town hall — SGA’s final outreach session of this semester — were also discussed.
In a note relayed by Vice President Balfe, Tatum Lucero — SGA’s communications director — said students in athletics brought up a lack of room and facilities for all of the university’s athletes.
Students also said they did not like professors encouraging the use of AI LLM tools and that CAB’s most recent bingo was both too loud and overcrowded.
For the latter issue, senators in SGA suggested finding a larger space to accommodate the event on campus or holding two separate events.
President pro-tempore Riley Mahon’s Innovations Committee is running the second round of its CulinArt satisfaction survey for the remainder of the semester.
In reports to the legislature, all senators said their focus was on collecting responses to the survey to meet Mahon’s goal of 200 responses.
The next, final SGA meeting of the semester will be held on Monday, April 27 at 3:15 p.m. in the Professional Career Readiness Center; all are welcome to attend.
