Public universities are supposed to be the “marketplace of ideas,” the places where America’s best and brightest go to learn, grow, and respectfully debate the big issues of our time. But unfortunately, modern university campuses have become some of the least friendly environments for free speech and free thought – especially when the ideas that students want to express go against progressive orthodoxy.
That’s what happened when John*, a student at Worcester State University, tried to start a Turning Point USA Club at his school. John was inspired to start the club last fall after TPUSA founder and conservative heavyweight Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated while debating issues with students on a college campus in Utah. John felt that conservative voices like his were not being adequately represented at Worcester State and he wanted to create a forum for all students – conservative and liberal alike – to come together and have good-faith dialogue on the issues that divided them.
But when John presented his request for official club approval to the Student Senate at WSU, he was met with suspicion and even outright hostility. Student senators claimed that having a TPUSA club on campus might make immigrant or LGBTQ students feel afraid. One senator stated that they were concerned that the Club would try to tell transgender students which bathroom they should use. Another suggested that the Club might call ICE to try to get immigrant students deported. A student leader from the LGBTQ+ Alliance opined that there were already enough threats to LGBTQ students at the University and when it came to TPUSA, “we don’t need that on campus.” The Senate ultimately voted to reject the TPUSA club’s application. Their reasons? Questions were raised about “how the organization would foster constructive engagement and dialogue within the Worcester State community” and “regarding the organization’s impact on the student environment and overall campus climate.”
In other words, John’s request was denied because his conservative views were not welcome at Worcester State.
This denial meant that John and fellow club members couldn’t reserve rooms on campus for their gatherings, couldn’t advertise their meetings on campus bulletin boards, and could not receive any student activity funds for their events.
When John reached out to us, we knew we needed to help. We immediately drafted a demand letter to the WSU Senate and university staff, outlining how rejecting the club’s request violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of association. We detailed how decades of Supreme Court precedent had held that student clubs could not be denied equal access based on their political beliefs. And we made clear that ongoing viewpoint discrimination against John and his friends would result in immediate legal action. You can read our letter below.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before we heard from Worcester State’s legal counsel, informing us that the Student Senate had reversed its prior vote and approved the TPUSA club’s request for official recognition. Now, John and his fellow club members are planning their first meetings and events for this upcoming fall and are excited to provide a space for all perspectives on campus – including conservative ones. We were grateful for the opportunity to teach the Student Senators at Worcester State a tuition-free lesson about the First Amendment: free speech is for everyone, not just people whose ideas you like.
*A pseudonym has been used in this story to protect our client from retaliation.