BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- Turning Point USA leaders at Olivet Nazarene University were forced off-campus due to receiving death threats, prompting an investigation by university officials and local police.
- Chapter president Jacob York reported receiving an anonymous threat via Instagram, which included violent language, and expressed fears for his safety.
- University President Gregg Chenoweth emphasized the seriousness of the threats and reassured that law enforcement is actively working to identify the individual responsible, while stating there is no known threat to the broader campus community.
Leaders of a Turning Point USA chapter at Olivet Nazarene University have been forced off campus for their safety after receiving death threats.
University officials are investigating the threats and gave chapter president Jacob York accommodations to finish the semester virtually, Fox News reported.
The chapter’s vice president, Mara Hudson, who manages the group’s Instagram account, was also advised to go home.
“The first death threat that I received was anonymous through Instagram,” York told Fox News. “It said that someone was going to come in the middle of the night and slit my throat.”
The school confirmed in a message to the university community last week that the Department of Public Safety and the local police are investigating the “concerning threats.”
“At no time is this sort of behavior acceptable in our society and certainly not at Olivet, and it will be handled accordingly,” the statement read.
“The University will continue to work proactively with Bourbonnais Police Department throughout their investigation to ensure Olivet’s campus remains a safe environment where our community can thrive. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety will continue to follow up on any leads that may possibly be related to this incident,” the university stated.
It added that there is no “known threat” to the rest of the campus community.
Olivet Nazarene President Gregg Chenoweth confirmed in an email to a parent, obtained by Fox News, that the threat was directed at one specific person, not the whole group.
“I’m a parent, not just a president, so I’m sincerely invested on the seriousness of this, and understand the fear it can create. I hope this quick note is sufficient, as we are getting lots of requests for information. I’ve been working on this myself for 7 hours so far today,” Chenoweth wrote.
Chenoweth also told the parent that law enforcement is actively trying to identify the anonymous individual behind the threat.
The TPUSA chapter is not a registered student organization at Olivet, as the students have not yet completed the formal process.
TPUSA chapters at universities across the country have faced harassment on campus or pushback from their administration in recent months.
Vanguard University, a Christian school in Southern California, recently denied official recognition to its chapter under a new “apolitical” policy banning religious, ideological, and political clubs on campus, The College Fix recently reported.
Another Christian university, Point Loma Nazarene, is also facing criticism for refusing to recognize a chapter.
In October, an Illinois State University graduate teaching assistant was fired and later arrested after flipping over a TPUSA table on campus.
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