Beloit College Students Face Harassment in Attempt to Establish Turning Point USA Chapter

A conservative student from Beloit College in Wisconsin claims that the institution is obstructing efforts to form a new Turning Point USA (TPUSA) club on campus. Jocelyn Jordan, along with her classmates, alleges that the school has not provided adequate protection to its members from harassment and threats encountered during this endeavor.

The Beginnings: Seeking Approval for a New Chapter

On October 1, Jordan and her fellow students began the application process to create a new TPUSA chapter at Beloit College. This process required them to find a faculty advisor, among several other stipulations. Unfortunately, every faculty member they approached, including the dean of students, declined to assist. According to Jordan, they were advised to form a group without the Turning Point name.

Harassment: From Social Media to Threats

The situation escalated quickly when Jordan and her peers started promoting their club on social media in mid-October. They became targets of a harassment campaign as a result of their efforts to create a chapter of the conservative organization founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The initial harassment took the form of grotesque imagery shared on the group’s new Instagram page, referring to Jordan and her co-founders as Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and White supremacists. This disturbing trend eventually transitioned into threats.

University’s Response: Dismissed Concerns

While the harassment intensified, the university appeared to downplay the students’ concerns, stating that no action could be taken because the individuals behind the harassing posts were anonymous. Eventually, when the harassment escalated to threats, Jordan filed a police report. This action prompted the college to take some measures, resulting in the banning of one primary harasser, identified as a former student working in campus food services.

A Call for Campus Safety

“As a student, I should feel comfortable coming to campus no matter what beliefs I have,” Jordan expressed in an interview with Fox News Digital. “I don’t feel comfortable right now.” She highlighted that it took three and a half weeks for the college to address the harassment concerns, which diminished her hope regarding the future of the TPUSA chapter.

Mixed Messages from the Administration

In addition to banning the alumnus, the college disseminated an email that Jordan characterized as “vague,” which came weeks after their complaints. The email warned students against hateful rhetoric but failed to directly address the harassment faced by Jordan and her classmates. Rather, it referenced a recent incident involving the depiction of fellow students as “dangerous radicals” among other inflammatory labels.

Intensifying Online Harassment

The harassment campaign against Jordan and her classmates became increasingly aggressive. An Instagram account, which has since been deleted, posted photos of the potential TPUSA board members and included manipulative and degrading images of Jordan next to Charlie Kirk in a casket and Donald Trump on a cross. Other digital messages directly confronted the TPUSA hopeful members, mocking their attempts to establish the club and calling them “cowards.”

Escalating Threats and University Inaction

As threats emerged, some prominent posts proclaimed a willingness to resort to violence against perceived “Nazis.” One commenter referenced the Second Amendment in a threatening context, asserting violent intent towards those who challenge them. Such comments raised serious concerns about the environment surrounding free speech and emotional safety on campus.

Institutional Commitments versus Reality

In response to inquiries, Beloit College released a statement insisting on its commitment to facilitating “respectful open inquiry” and maintaining a diverse campus environment. The college reiterated that it was not impeding the formation of the student group, claiming adherence to its policies regarding club establishment processes. Additionally, it confirmed that an investigation led to the banning of one individual due to the emerging threats of harassment.

Political Fallout: Calls for Action

Determined not to relent, Jordan and her classmates continue their pursuit of a TPUSA chapter at Beloit, hopeful that they will eventually secure a faculty advisor to validate their organization officially. In light of the unfolding events, GOP Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Josh Schoemann publicly urged Beloit College to approve the chapter, emphasizing that the failure to protect students from harassment would signify a lack of leadership.

The Future: Advocacy for Free Expression

“I stand with these students in their fight to establish a Turning Point USA chapter,” Schoemann proclaimed, advocating for the right to free and safe expression of divergent views on campus.

The ongoing situation at Beloit College raises questions about the state of political discourse, free speech, and personal safety in academic environments. The case exemplifies the challenges faced by students seeking to navigate their beliefs on campus amidst increasing hostility and institutional obligations.