An Open Letter to LOYNO Senate | On the issue of Turning Point USA

 Good evening esteemed senators and guests,

My purpose in writing to you today is multi-faceted. I understand that there has been much controversy surrounding the potential chartering of a chapter of Turning Point USA here at Loyola University New Orleans. It is my position, as well as the position of large swaths of the student body that Turning Point USA is a hate group that has no place at Loyola University New Orleans. 

On Hatred

I am writing not just on behalf of myself, but on behalf of all of those students of varied creeds, genders, nations of origin, religions, and on behalf of this beautiful nation that we have cultivated here at Loyola. I am writing on behalf of the transgender students who wish not to be "eradicated from public life" (M.J. Knowles, TPUSA Speaker). I am writing on behalf of the black women of Loyola University New Orleans who see their achievements as irreducible to the caricature of a so-called "diversity hire." I am writing on behalf of Muslim students who seek not to "gain land and territory," (C.J. Kirk, TPUSA Founder) but who are simply servants of God who may worship differently or similarly to us, but are nonetheless faithful people who are as human and worthy of validity on this campus as any other person. '

Loyola University New Orleans has built an amazing reputation as a school where students of all identities— gender-wise, racially, or religiously— can find themselves. It would be rather distasteful to invite open hate speech and divisive rhetoric onto our campus. Worth noting, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities has taken a firm position on anti-racism. TPUSA founder, Charles J. Kirk, however has refuted this with claims that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was an invalid piece of legislation and, furthermore, has referred to "moronic black women" who only have careers due to affirmative action and who lack the "brain processing power" to serve in government or be taken seriously. From his statement in 2021 that "transgenderism [sic] and gender-'fluidity' are lies that hurt people and abuse kids," to the description of the assailant on Paul Pelosi as a "patriot," to the especially egregious notion that there are:

"prowling Blacks [who] go around for fun to go target white people"

  - Charles J. Kirk, Founder of Turning Point USA

   —It has been shown repeatedly that Turning Point USA is an institution that traffics in hatred, stereotypes, and vile rhetoric concerning people who are— in any way— different from Charlie Kirk or those whom he views as acceptable.  

On Safety

 In addition to a wealth of hateful and incendiary rhetoric, Turning Point USA's events (in particular events featuring speakers or bad-faith debate) have sparked violent confrontation and threat thereof on various college campuses across America. In 2023, the far-right "Proud Boys" (designated as an extremist organization by Canada, New Zealand, and the State of Colorado) clashed violently with progressive students on the campus of the University of California, Davis. Another clash occurred at UC Davis in April of this year that resulted in militarized riot police being deployed to campus. This is even exemplified by the fact that armed members of the Loyola University Police Department are in attendance as potential crowd control. In the intense political climate that we are dealing with today, and in the wake of Kirk's assassination (yet another instance of political violence propagated by the current extremist and divisive culture), it may be unwise to allow a TPUSA chapter here at Loyola. In particular, the public "change my mind" events pose a significant threat to the safety of the Loyola community and the wider New Orleans community.

It is for this reason, that I— on behalf of myself and the signatories to this letter— urge you to deny Turning Point USA their charter with the strongest of possible terms. 

Signatories:

Authored By

— Rosalina Victorian-Framboise
    — Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans
    — Member, Steering Committee, Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for Democratic Society

Cosigned by the following Loyola University New Orleans students:

— Councillor Jeffery Norris, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences
— Justice Erin Gillen, Environment Program, College of Arts and Sciences
— Chris Malodano, Environment Program, College of Arts and Sciences
— Emery Young, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
— Fmr. Sen. Juleea Berthelot, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
— Fmr. Sen. Carson Cruse, Joseph A. Butt, S.J., College of Business
— Jacob Hutter, College of Music and Media; Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
— Eli Cantu, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences
— Mae Guidry, College of Law
— Ethan Shairsingh, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
— Ava Wilcazk, Public Health Program, College of Arts and Sciences
— Sam Crewdson, Joseph A. Butt, S.J., College of Business
— Zahra Zeini, Public Health Program, College of Arts and Sciences
— Nathan Brodsky, College of Music and Media
— Elsie Swedberg, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences
— Calder Declan LeValley, College of Music and Media
— Ava Barrero, College of Music and Media
— Natalie Schrodt, College of Music and Media
— Kaleiah Smith, College of Music and Media
— Amari Hawkins, Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

— Dani López, College of Music and Media

— Reid Giusti, Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Furthermore cosigned by the following individuals:

— Jackie Blaney, MSW (Louisiana State University Class of 1977; Director, Supported Living Network)
— Simon Sledge (Southern New Hampshire University Class of 2030)
— Levi Buckstein (Drake University Class of 2029)
— Susie Bennett
— Miu Sims (Member, Steering Committee, Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for Democratic Society)
— Graeme Eble (University of Illinois-Chicago Class of 2026)
— Leo Stull (Colorado School of Mines Class of 2027)
— Lessie Freeman (Louisiana State University Class of 1971; Former Senior Coordinator for History and Social Science, Norfolk Public School District)

— Tobias DeBarros

— Blu DiMarco (Chairman, Queer and Trans Community Action Project New Orleans)

— Margo Wilson (Louisiana State University Class of 2027; President, Louisiana State University Students for Democratic Society)

— Enola Guyer (Louisiana State University Class of 2026)

— Ziad Eissa (Louisiana State University Class of 2028; Vice-President, Louisiana State University Students for Democratic Society)

— Ryan Spalt (Louisiana State University Class of 2025)

— Zane Sutor-Benfield (Louisiana State University Class of 2028)

Cosigned by the following organizations and publications:

— The Daily Salad (blog.romainelettuce.us)
— Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for Democratic Society (lunosds.org)
— The Louisiana Supported Living Network (thenetworkla.net)

— Queer and Trans Community Action Project New Orleans (linktr.ee/qtcap)

— Louisiana State University Students for Democratic Society (https://tigerlink.lsu.edu/sds/home/)