By Emily Fox · Editor-in-Chief
Grove City College officially has a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter on campus.
TPUSA is a conservative educational program founded by Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. Now under the leadership of his wife, Erika Kirk, TPUSA continues its goal to encourage students on high school and college campuses to become young conservative leaders equipped to teach others about American conservative values, according to the TPUSA website.
The initiative to start a chapter at Grove City began last fall after two students, Moira Donovan and Allie Stegner, met the local TPUSA regional director.
“After speaking with him, we knew this was something we were personally interested in and thought there would be a lot of interest on campus,” Stegner said.
Stegner and Donovan had to register to become a chapter through both TPUSA and Grove City College’s process of starting a new club on campus.
They worked with the regional director to become a recognized chapter by TPUSA. To become approved at Grove City College, Stegner and Donovan found a faculty advisor, Assistant Professor of Accounting Keith Graybill, submitted a club proposal with an approval checklist and wrote the club’s constitution. Donovon then went before the administrative council.
After more than two months, they completed both processes and became one of over 800 official college TPUSA chapters.
“Our purpose is to ‘educate and equip students in the values of fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government, promoting the principles of freedom and individual liberty in a respectful and civil manner,’ which are all key aspects of Turning Point and important things for college students to learn about,” Stegner said. “We also place a high emphasis on reflecting the character of Christ in all that we do.”
Grove City’s TPUSA chapter has already held an interest meeting and begun planning several events for the spring semester, including hosting a table about the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the student union.
The chapter’s first meeting will cover recent events surrounding immigrants and ICE. Students interested in getting involved with the group should join its Telegram channel, pay attention to its posters in academic buildings or sit in on one of its meetings on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. in Staley Hall of Arts and Letters.
“I personally hope to carry out TPUSA’s mission on this campus by approaching every interaction with the characteristics of Christ. This includes, but is not limited to, demonstrating truth, humility and love,” Stegner said. “I truly believe that it is so important to engage in free speech and open debate in ways that can equip students to think critically and act faithfully as they pursue their callings.”
