BUZZ
Small college initially allowed students to block the group
Student activists at a small college in Wisconsin can now run their Turning Point USA-affiliated club without obstacles.
The Patriots of Faith group at Lawrence University is now approved after fighting for months for official status.
Zach Currier and his club faced a battle after a campuswide referendum on the club was scrapped due to low turnout. In the meantime, Currier had to wait for the student government to approve his organization, as The College Fix reported in April. Around 1,500 students attend the liberal arts college in Appleton.
Now Currier (pictured) can start next semester with full status, according to a recent report by WBAY.
The university stated:
The Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC) approved the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter, known as Patriots of Faith. The approval went through the standard student-led shared governance process that is used for evaluating all potential student organizations at Lawrence University.
Lawrence University is deeply committed to free speech and the open exchange of ideas. We strive to create an environment where all students feel empowered to express their beliefs and engage in respectful dialogue, without fear of ridicule or harassment. We want to express our appreciation for the diligent work, integrity, and commitment to respectful discussions from all involved in this process.
Currier had won the support of the university’s president, as The Fix reported.
“I know Zach. I know that he is passionate about this issue, and I support his right to be passionate about it and to bring this organization to campus, if it goes through the process in the way that it should,” President Laurie Carter told Fox 11.
A national free speech previously told The Fix that students should not hold veto power over organizations.
“Allowing factors such as protests or potential hostility from other students to influence the decision-making process risks turning the student government vote into a popularity contest and endangers free expression for all students on campus,” Charlotte Arneson told The Fix via email.
She works on campus issues for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
