Baldwin Wallace University's Student Senate voted 16-3-1 on Nov. 11 to deny official recognition of a Turning Point USA chapter after an open forum and Senate deliberation. Organizer Grace Pruchnicki says the campaign faced repeated hostility, including torn posters and hateful comments, and that the Senate lacked access to its bylaws. The university said the decision followed proper procedure and noted about 40 students attended the forum; the Dean praised productive civic engagement. Organizers plan to appeal, and the issue reflects broader national debate over campus chapters of conservative groups.
Baldwin Wallace Student Senate Rejects Turning Point USA Charter After Reports Of Campus Harassment
Dec 11
Student government at Baldwin Wallace University, in a suburb of Cleveland, recently voted against having a Turning Point USA chapter at their school.
Student government at Baldwin Wallace University, a private institution near Cleveland, voted on Nov. 11 to deny official recognition to a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter after a campus review and open forum.
Vote And Process
The Student Senate considered the application and, following deliberation and parliamentary procedure, voted 16 opposed, 3 in favor and 1 abstention to deny the charter. The university said the decision followed an open forum attended by roughly 40 students and a full Senate review.
Applicant's Account
The university said its University Student Senate ended its review of TPUSA’s application on Nov. 11, and that after "proper parliamentary procedure and open deliberation, the Senate voted, and the application was denied."
Grace Pruchnicki, a senior who led the recognition effort, told Fox News Digital that organizers had worked for two months to secure a charter and that the Senate voted without providing a reason. Pruchnicki said the campaign later discovered student government members did not have ready access to their own bylaws, which complicated the decision-making process.
"We have people that tear down our posters every single day," Pruchnicki said, adding that some responses on general interest forms included hateful language. "We do not feel heard, and we believe the university has not taken our concerns about harassment seriously."
University Statements
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Baldwin Wallace confirmed the Senate concluded its review on Nov. 11 and denied the application following open deliberation. The university also noted that Dean of Students Dr. Léna Crain commended students for using expressive activity and student government to share perspectives productively during the forum.
University President Lee Fisher said he personally supports approval of the proposed TPUSA chapter as part of the university's commitment to free expression but emphasized that his view is a personal perspective, not an institutional endorsement.
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is assassinated during Turning Point's visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
Next Steps
Pruchnicki said organizers plan to pursue an appeal and hope the appeals process can begin in January after the winter break.
Context
The episode at Baldwin Wallace comes amid heightened national attention to campus chapters of conservative groups. The original report noted a reported surge in requests for new TPUSA chapters following the widely reported killing of TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10; that development has contributed to increased interest and debate over campus political organizing.
