Student government had rejected application over alleged ‘hate speech’ claims

The Dean of Students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has approved Turning Point USA as a Registered Student Organization, overturning a decision by the student government to reject the application.

“While the Student Government Association may voice opinions, recognition of student organizations is determined by the UTC Dean of Students and Chancellor. Turning Point USA has been authorized in accordance with university policy and the law,” the dean announced Thursday in a statement.

The administrative overruling came after immense pressure from watchdogs who criticized the student government decision.

Popular trial lawyer Robert Barnes posted on X: “My hometown school –@UTChattanooga — apparently told students they cannot form a campus chapter of @TPUSA due to false claims of ‘hate speech.’ If this is not reversed immediately, I will sue the school for the students, and win. And UTC will pay the bill. Fix it now!”

The post received more than 1.4 million views and a reply from U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stating: “Let us know what happens.”

Conservative Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated at Utah Valley University in mid-September as he hosted a campus debate. The murder sparked outrage — as well as an influx of interest in starting TPUSA chapters.

The founder of Turning Point USA’s chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Sophie Fuller, told a local news station she wanted to start it to help foster constructive discussions.

Her efforts actually pre-date Kirk’s murder; they began in March, she said, adding she wanted to help launch a “conservative revival” in the region.

“America is built on differing opinions,” Fuller told Local News 3. “Without that, we would be nothing, and our goal is to bring that to campus.”

MORE: Professor emerita: Charlie Kirk ‘reinforced the architecture of racial dominance’