Loyola law students join Turning Point appeal after SGA denial
Supporters of Turning Point USA at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law have partnered with undergraduate founders to appeal a Student Government Association (SGA) decision that blocked official recognition of a campus chapter.
On Oct. 15 the SGA Senate voted to deny recognition of the Turning Point chapter, a move that drew attention beyond the campus. Two Loyola law students — including former Turning Point field representative Ethan Estis — helped draft and file a formal appeal with the SGA Court of Review.
Legal argument: subjective reasoning
Estis told reporters he reviewed the SGA's written grievance and concluded the denial relied on equity-based and subjective reasoning rather than the school's written rules and regulations. "Most of it was subjective reasoning. They didn't really root it in any of the laws or rules and regulations that they're supposed to follow," he said, and he said that perceived subjectivity formed the basis of the written appeal.
Estis, who previously worked as a Turning Point field representative while an undergraduate at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, said he reworked the students' initial paperwork to align with Loyola's appellate procedures and helped submit the appeal to the Court of Review.
Reasons for denial and campus response
According to reporting, the SGA cited similarity between Turning Point and other Christian organizations on campus as one reason for denial. Estis disputed that characterization, noting that Turning Point USA describes itself as a conservative civic organization focused on principles such as free markets and limited government rather than an explicitly religious group.
Opponents on campus raised concerns about Turning Point's alignment with Loyola's Jesuit, Catholic identity. A freshman identified in reporting as Rosalina Framboise said she believed the group did not belong on the Jesuit Catholic campus and cited comments attributed to Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk that she said conflicted with the university's values.
"By limiting the organizations that exist on campus simply because of subjective-based reasoning... just is not right," Estis said of the SGA decision.
University statement and next steps
Loyola confirmed the Court of Review has received the students' appeal and said it expects to decide before Nov. 21. The university reiterated that student organizations must follow the student government handbook and emphasized its commitment to fairness, inclusion, civil discourse and student self-governance as part of its Jesuit, Catholic mission.
Estis said the school's appellate process was not fully transparent to the undergraduates and that the law students provided procedural guidance and edits to the appeal form. The Court of Review may either overturn the SGA Senate's decision or remand the case for further consideration.
Status: Appeal filed; decision expected before Nov. 21.
