BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- Vanguard University denied a student chapter of Turning Point USA under a new 'apolitical' policy that prohibits religious, ideological, and political clubs, citing concerns about the group's association with 'MAGA.'
- Student Sadie Burnett criticized the decision, claiming it undermines critical thinking and is inconsistent with the university's mission, as it permits other ideological clubs.
- The administration allowed the TPUSA group to meet outdoors but Burnett deemed this arrangement inadequate and unsafe.
Vanguard University of Southern California denied a Turning Point USA chapter as part of a new “apolitical” policy that bans religious, ideological, and political clubs.
The school also told the conservative group’s president that its association with “MAGA” factored into the decision.
“My TPUSA chapter has had a lively and active presence on campus since 2023, but Vanguard University has decided to go in a new direction this semester, turning apolitical,” student Sadie Burnett wrote in a Substack post this week.
She wrote that with the new policy, the school aims to prevent students from becoming “convicted in their political identity rather than their identity in Christ.”
“On the contrary, I find it rather concerning that my conservative values, which I derive from my biblical convictions, are considered inconsistent with the university’s mission,” Burnett wrote.
When she questioned the university’s decision further, administrators said the school “is fearful of TPUSA’s ‘MAGA connection.’”
Burnett wrote that the decision to deny the group undermines students’ “development of critical and creative thinking skills, promoting the idea that political discourse is taboo.”
Further, the chapter president called the school’s decision “unjust and irrational,” pointing out that it still permits “several racial and cultural clubs that are ideological in nature and have spread anti-conservative political propaganda.”
The TPUSA chapter has been restricted from typical campus activities such as booking rooms, receiving funding, hosting events, or participating in club rush.
Vanguard administration agreed to allow the student group to meet outside on campus, but Burnett called this step “insignificant” and “problematic,” as she believes it raises safety concerns for the group.
“As it is every university’s desire to uphold their mission statement and live out their alleged values, I urge Vanguard University to reconsider their decision to deny my TPUSA chapter in light of honoring their promises to their students, which includes the conservative population,” Burnett wrote.
The student who founded the TPUSA chapter, Sarah Stock, posted a video on X condemning the school’s decision and arguing that Christians should engage in political activism.
Earlier this year, the school also rejected a student’s application to establish a Students for Life club on campus.
However, after receiving a letter from SFLA’s attorney, Vanguard reconsidered and allowed the student to create a new club, now named Vanguard Lions Love Life, according to Fox News.
The university stated that while the original politically-focused group was disallowed, a club focused on service or support could be formed.
Vanguard isn’t the only California university to recently deny a TPUSA chapter.
Students at Point Loma Nazarene University attempted for the third time to charter a campus chapter of TPUSA, The College Fix previously reported.
The school’s student government rejected the bid, citing a campus policy that does not allow an outside ministry from using campus resources if it duplicates what the university’s own campus ministry team already does.
“But where are conservative Christian voices actually heard on this campus? Definitely not through invited speakers or chapel,” Point Loma student Ginger Friess told The Fix.
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