EDITORS' CORNER
Key Takeaways
- Students and a Wisconsin political candidate accused Beloit College of blocking a new Turning Point USA chapter.
- Student Jocelyn Jordan stated her group met most requirements but struggled to secure a faculty advisor. She also faced threats and harassment after publicizing her efforts.
- College spokesperson Ellenor Anderbyrne said the school is not obstructing the TPUSA group's formation, telling The Fix that students must fulfill standard requirements and that there has been an investigation into harassment claims leading to serious repercussions.
A student and Wisconsin political candidate condemned Beloit College for allegedly preventing students from forming a Turning Point USA chapter on campus.
However, the school told The College Fix that it is not preventing the conservative student group from forming the chapter.
In a post on X Friday, student Jocelyn Jordan claimed her group fulfilled all club recognition requirements except securing a faculty advisor. She stated that multiple professors declined and the dean of students provided no assistance.
“Then, after posting our executive board on Instagram, the harassment exploded. Dozens of comments calling us Nazis, KKK members, white supremacists, and even personal insults,” she wrote.
“Meanwhile, the College Democrats operate without obstacles, without harassment, and with full institutional support. So yes, Beloit College loves ‘inclusion’ — as long as you agree with them,” the student wrote.
She also claimed the school told her to “consider starting a different organization.”
On Thursday, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Josh Schoemann called on the school to approve the chapter and protect its conservative students in a thread on X.
He also shared a petition urging his followers to demand that the college immediately approve the group.
However, Beloit College spokesperson Ellenor Anderbyrne told The College Fix via email it is simply asking students to follow school procedures.
“Beloit College is not blocking these students’ path to club membership, and we are in full accordance with campus policies,” Anderbyrne stated.
She stated that the school has directed the students to follow the required process for starting a club “in accordance with standard procedures at Beloit College.”
“The Dean of Students and other staff met with the students and explained the procedure for forming a student club on campus. Any students wishing to start a student club are responsible for fulfilling all the necessary requirements to do so,” Anderbyrne stated.
She also told The Fix that the school has investigated the threats and harassment against the students looking to form a TPUSA chapter.
“A recent investigation of reports of harassment and threats on social media involved campus security, the Beloit Police Department, and a third-party business. The investigation was thorough, and there were serious repercussions,” she stated.
Following the investigation, the person responsible has been banned from campus.
“Beloit College expects all members of our community to practice compassion and respect towards each other. We are an educational institution, and students learn best within a safe and vibrant campus environment,” she stated.
This is one of several disputes on college campuses nationwide over TPUSA chapters following the assassination of the conservative organization’s founder, Charlie Kirk.
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