Loyola University Court Vacates SGA Decision Blocking Turning Point USA Chapter
The Student Government Association (SGA) Court of Review at Loyola University New Orleans has vacated the SGA Senate's Oct. 15 vote that denied official recognition to a newly formed Turning Point USA (TPUSA) student chapter, according to the court document obtained by news outlets.
The reversal followed an appeal filed by the students seeking recognition, with assistance from two Loyola law students who helped draft the appeal. The matter has been remanded to the SGA Senate for reconsideration; a new vote date has not been set.
Procedural Grounds and Key Findings
The Court of Review found procedural deficiencies in the SGA's handling of the Oct. 15 meeting. Specifically, the court determined that an executive session was not properly called and that individuals not specified in the bylaws should have left the room alongside the TPUSA representatives. The court concluded that the subsequent vote therefore failed to comply with the school's open-meeting requirements.
In addition to the procedural ruling, the court rejected two substantive reasons cited by the SGA for denying recognition: concerns about student "safety" and "campus climate." The ruling states those grounds did not constitute valid legal or procedural bases for refusing the chapter official status. The record shows the chapter had met Loyola's formal requirements for chartering prior to the original vote.
The Court also found the SGA overstepped its authority by demanding a detailed budget plan from the chapter despite evidence that the national Turning Point USA organization would provide funding.
Reactions
One of the law students involved in the appeal, Ethan Estis, described the decision as "a big win for the students of Loyola University New Orleans," saying the court "clearly saw a deviation from the standard practice of granting RSO status to an organization" and praising the student leaders for their resilience.
"The Court of Review made the right decision here — upward and onward for these student leaders and for all students who have an opportunity for their voice to be heard at Loyola!" — Ethan Estis
Loyola University issued a midday Tuesday statement confirming the court's decision: "The Student Government Association’s Court of Review has issued its decision on the appeal related to Turning Point USA’s student organization charter application. The Court vacated the Senate’s prior decision and remanded the matter to the SGA Senate for reconsideration based on procedural considerations." The university reiterated its commitment to dialogue, transparency and support for student participation in shared governance, noting these actions are consistent with its Jesuit mission.
Next steps: the SGA will hold a new vote on whether to grant TPUSA a charter; the date has not been announced.
