By: Abel Flessner
“To promote the principles of free markets, limited government and individual liberty.”
The mission statement of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) aims to establish individual freedoms across the country. Yet in practice, it has ultimately done nothing but create controversy and division, serving as a platform for right-wing political views, particularly on college campuses, and has blown up since the death of its founder, Charlie Kirk, on Sep. 10.
Now, some students are attempting to start a chapter at Dominican, a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
On Thursday morning, a popular campus-wide anonymous social media site, ‘Fizz’ blew up with backlash towards the establishment of a TPUSA chapter at Dominican.
One ‘Fizz’ post stated, “Dominican is an [HSI] and a community built on principles of inclusivity, respect and service. When a group like TPUSA known nationally for rhetoric that targets marginalized communities is publicly tied to our school, it reflects on all of us, whether we support it or not.”
Dominican is a primarily Hispanic institution, which makes the establishment of a TPUSA chapter particularly unsettling, especially amid ongoing ICE raids plaguing Chicago.
In 2024, 74.6% of the incoming class identified as Hispanic, and 69% of the overall student body was Hispanic. This demographic represents the very group of people most often targeted by ICE, which TPUSA has publicly supported.
Given that DU is also a sanctuary school, it is highly likely some students attending DU are undocumented immigrants or have family or close friends who are. Starting a TPUSA chapter, therefore, does not simply start a new political organization, it creates an environment of fear and isolation for students who should feel welcomed and supported on campus.
Kirk has made pro-ICE statements on the record multiple times at his events.
TPUSA is supposedly built on the foundational ideas of “individual liberty” but often aligns with policies and campaigns that limit freedoms for marginalized communities. By promoting ICE raids, anti-DEI campaigns, and targeting professors across the country with their “Professor Watchlist,” TPUSA directly undermines the ideas it claims to defend.
Although TPUSA aims to empower students, it ultimately ends up intimidating or silencing voices, particularly those of color. An organization like TPUSA simply does not belong at an HSI.DU commits to “[prepare] students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.” The establishment of an organization whose values deliberately stand in direct opposition to DU’s message is not only hypocritical, but deeply harmful to the sense of safety and belonging DU promises students.
aflessner@my.dom.edu
Dominican University students are too weak and feeble to support their own arguments they refuse to engage with opposing thoughts by facetiously labeling them “racist” and other “ists”. University education continues to be lackluster in challenging students, only placating the infantile thoughts of those afraid to think outside their bubbles.
It’s wild to call out people for supposedly being “afraid to think outside their bubbles” while choking on rhetoric that, at its core, requires you not to think outside your own bubble and not understand the world around you.
Dominican University: We’re Inclusive… except to people we disagree with.
So much for inclusivity, the school should allow students to share their viewpoints. But of course, they call racist or facist if you dont agree with them. Smh.
smh
Inclusive means allowing groups to start up; agree with me until I have a different opinion? Harboring illegals and being concerned that they may face prosecution isn’t being tolerant. It’s called criminality.
Furthermore, DU is a Catholic institution and is based on truth and love. Yet I suspect DU is a microcosm of what’s happening in Chicago. People who want to start up a chapter like TPUSA, are facing strong backlash from students. And some of those people are probably harassing them, threatening violence etc., all of which are criminal acts. One cant’ hide behind their fear by not allowing a group to start up and leveraging your fear by trying to fearmonger another group with your vitriolic behavior.
You should be embarrassed by your lack of understanding of the situation.
Dominican is only Catholic when it’s convenient. They try to hide around a misrepresentation of Catholic Social Teaching when it comes to illegal immigration, but will turn a blind eye when there’s an LGBTQ Mass on campus or will collaborate with an organization that encourages students to go to Planned Parenthood.