The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has officially given the green light to a new chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) on its campus. This decision notably overturns the student government’s initial vote to reject the conservative group’s establishment.
Jay Blackman, UTC’s vice chancellor of communications and marketing, clarified the university’s stance, telling Fox News Digital, “As part of the process of becoming a Registered Student Organization at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Dean of Student’s Office has completed its review of a group of students’ application to establish a chapter of Turning Point USA on campus.”
Blackman further confirmed the group’s official status: “The Dean of Students’ Office has determined that Turning Point USA is approved as a Registered Student Organization.”
Student Opposition and Campus Dynamics
This approval follows a period of notable resistance from UTC’s Student Government Association, which had opposed the chapter’s formation. Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012. Tragically, Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University.
Blackman reiterated that the authority for recognizing student organizations rests with the Dean of Students and the university chancellor, not the student government. He stated, according to Fox News Digital, that “While the Student Government Association may voice opinions, recognition of student organizations is determined by the UTC Dean of Students and Chancellor. Turning Point USA has been authorized in accordance with university policy and the law.”
Legal Pressure and Public Scrutiny
The university’s reversal wasn’t without external influence. It came after trial lawyer Robert Barnes publicly criticized the student government’s initial rejection on X (formerly Twitter). Barnes posted, “My hometown school — @UTChattanooga — apparently told students they cannot form a campus chapter of @TPUSA due to false claims of ‘hate speech.’” He threatened legal action if the decision wasn’t reversed.
The issue gained further traction when Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, responded to Barnes’s post, stating, “Let us know what happens.” Barnes later credited Dhillon’s involvement as a crucial factor in the university’s change of heart.
Turning Point USA’s Mission and Broader Context
Turning Point USA is a prominent national conservative youth organization. Since its founding by Charlie Kirk in 2012, its mission has been to advocate for free markets and limited government principles on college campuses across the nation. This recent approval at UTC echoes similar controversies seen at other institutions, such as Rutgers, where conservative student groups have raised allegations of political bias.