Turning Point USA holding ‘Campus Clash’

An organization that has already been part of controversy at Texas State University this year is holding an event on campus Wednesday night. 

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) will hold a “Campus Clash” event, with TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk and communications director Candace Owens, at the Alkek Teaching Theater from 6:30-9:30 p.m. According to the Eventbrite event, attendees must have tickets but tickets are free. Admission is first come, first served, and students must show valid student IDs at entry; non-students must also have valid IDs, and information on IDs must match the information on attendees’ tickets. 

“It’s technically a speaking event but think of this as part of the operation to establish a beachhead,” said Benjamin Larrabee, central regional manager for TPUSA. “We’re bringing two rising stars in the liberty movement to an institution that is disproportionately biased to the left. From academia, to the administration, all the way down to the student body, conservatives and libertarians feel isolated and even ostracised. Our movement is bringing the principles of free markets and limited government to a student body that may not otherwise hear these ideas and providing relief to beleaguered conservatives on campus.”

Texas State has a Turning Point chapter, and shortly after the start of the semester then-Student Body President Brooklyn Boreing resigned after facing allegations that her campaign accepted $2,800 and 25 loaned iPads from TPUSA. The allegation came from one of Boreing’s former opponents. 

Turning Point USA maintains a “Professor Watch List” to “expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.” Two Texas State professors are on the list. 

The Chronicle of Higher Education has published numerous pieces on TPUSA’s involvement in campus elections across the country. In a TPUSA brochure published in April alongside a Chronicle of Higher Education article on the organization’s campus election activity, Texas State’s student government is listed among targeted student elections. The university is also named in a list of “full victories” for TPUSA. The New Yorker published a piece in December 2017 on allegations of racial bias and potential legal issues with some of TPUSA’s campus election involvement. A memo allegedly originating with the Young America’s Foundation conservative group lists numerous issues with TPUSA and provides guidance for talking about the organization with students. 

Security measures for the “Campus Clash” event prohibit face coverings, bags, backpacks, messenger bags, sticks, poles, bats, tactical gear such as helmets or body armor or weapons (including concealed carry). The Eventbrite listing for the event notes, “Be prepared for airport-like screening,” and “Video and audio-surveillance will be in use.” All people and property will be searched, the listing notes. A full list of prohibited items can be found on the Eventbrite page.  

“As for security, we’re taking these steps to ensure that all attendees, whether conservative or progressive, are able to enjoy themselves and interact with Charlie and Candace during the Q&A,” Larrabee said. “These steps are being taken due to past protests and disruptions, organized by the left, that we’ve experienced on other campuses. It speaks volumes to the climate on college campuses that we must take these steps in order to ensure the safety of guests that just want to hear a differing set of ideas.”

A spokesman for Texas State confirmed that these specific security restrictions originate with TPUSA.

“Texas State is treating this event like any other student organization-sponsored speaking event. UPD will be present to assist with security as usual.”

TPUSA describes its purpose as “to educate students about the importance of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”