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By Victoria Hansen and Pulse Staff
hansenv@findlay.edu
Turning Point USA has 900 official chapters in colleges across the country, according to Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” in a Fox News Digital story published shortly after Charlie Kirk’s death in September 2025. One of the newest chapters is at Ashland University, a fellow G-MAC Division II school. Ashland’s student senate said no to the provisional charter, but the university president and board of trustees overruled the students and granted the request.
“The Board and I made this decision in the larger context of AU’s commitment to the freedom of association and expression and to ensure that we uphold the educational value of viewpoint plurality,” Ashland University President John Parrish Peede said in a press release.
The Ashland Student Senate voted to overturn Turning Point USA’s charter due to the organization’s Professor Watchlist program, which lets students report professors who “discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom,” according to Turning Point USA.
At the University of Findlay, the Student Government Association and Student Activities have no record of a Turning Point USA chapter, though there appears to be an Instagram account called Turning Point USA at the University of Findlay with 108 followers and only three posts from the fall of 2024.
Seth Dahlhausen, SGA president, says that there is no record of a Turning Point USA chapter on UF’s campus, but that doesn’t mean that the account was fake.
“I know we’ve seen a couple instances of anonymous Instagram accounts being created for a particular cause but never really gaining any traction,” Dahlhausen said in an email interview. “Without university recognition, it would not be considered a student organization on campus.”
The SGA and Student Activities have final approval for clubs formed on campus. When a club interest form is filled out and a constitution is implemented, the SGA will choose to approve or deny the club.
While UF has an appeal process for clubs, it is not well-documented on the university’s website.
“I have not heard of this taking place at UF over the years, but an appeal process could take place if a club is denied active status,” Bryan Golding, senior director of campus, community, and global engagement at UF, said in an email interview.
Golding was not clear whether a Turning Point USA chapter would be allowed on UF’s campus.
“We understand that not everyone is always going to agree on everything,” Golding said. “A large part of putting the Statement of Community into action is being able to interact with those we disagree with in a respectful manner.”
The UF Statement of Community states, in part, that “We aspire to foster acceptance of, respect for, and appreciation of all persons in our campus community. We believe that respect, understanding, and meaningful connections inspire creativity and promote the civil exchange of ideas.” This statement went into effect in the Fall Semester of 2025, replacing the previous Statement of Diversity.
The Anti-Defamation League listed Turning Point USA in its “Glossary of Extremism and Hate,” until it was taken down in 2025 after the death of Charlie Kirk. The Southern Poverty Law Center still considers TPUSA a White Nationalist and far-right group.
Supporters of Turning Point USA have denied these allegations, with public figures such as Elon Musk defending the organization.
“The continued existence of student organizations on campus is also conditional on those groups adhering to all university policy,” Golding said. “If a group of students were to complete the proper process to start a new organization, and continued to adhere to all aspects of university policy, then the new organization could be established on campus.”
Golding says it is important that any student organization on campus be made up of students on UF’s campus.
“While some organizations may have connections or affiliations with outside or national organizations, much like our Greek Life or Honorary Society organizations, the day-to-day operations of the club should be centered on our campus,” Golding said.
Golding emphasizes civil discourse, no matter the situation.
“Another big part of it is that everyone, individuals and organizations, across campus abide by the policies and principles of the university, and that we all work together in a kind and positive way to hold one another accountable where needed,” Golding said.
