Anistin Murray, a freshman at Loyola University New Orleans, says she will continue efforts to form a Turning Point USA chapter after the Student Government Association twice rejected the group's charter. The initial Oct. 15 denial was overturned by the university's Court of Review but remanded to the SGA, which denied the charter again in early December and had the decision upheld by the SGA president. Murray and co‑founders, assisted by Loyola law students, argue the first denial relied on 'subjective' reasoning and plan to pursue another appeal in the spring while seeking constructive dialogue with university officials.
Loyola Freshman Vows to Keep Fighting After Student Government Twice Blocks Turning Point USA Chapter
Loyola New Orleans University student Anistin Murray, who has been battling the school's student government to start a Turning Point USA chapter, stands next to a TPUSA banner at AmericaFest in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
Anistin Murray, a freshman at Loyola University New Orleans, says she will continue pressing to establish a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter on campus after the Student Government Association (SGA) twice denied the group's charter application.
Background
The initial application from Murray and two co‑founders was denied on Oct. 15. The students appealed to the university's Court of Review and won the appeal, prompting the case to be returned to the SGA for reconsideration. In early December the SGA again voted to reject the charter, and the SGA president subsequently upheld that decision following the Dec. 3 appeal process.
Student Turning Point USA leaders speak on a panel during the organization's annual AmericaFest event on Dec. 19, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Students' Response
The founders enlisted help from Loyola law students to prepare a written appeal, arguing that the SGA's first denial relied on subjective reasoning rather than the written rules and regulations governing student organizations. Law student Ethan Estis told reporters at the time that much of the initial decision 'was subjective reasoning' and not grounded in the applicable rules.
'They said that, you know, it does make a lot of the students feel uncomfortable and that it will bring a lot of hate and negativity and all this disruption to the university, which I find quite sad because that's not what an organization is meant to push,' Murray told attendees at TPUSA's AmericaFest conference in Phoenix.
Arguments and Next Steps
According to Murray, supporters of a TPUSA chapter were present in the student body and felt sidelined by the SGA vote. She emphasized that Turning Point USA aims to promote dialogue and civil discourse rather than hostility, saying organizers want to engage respectfully with students who disagree.
A group of attendees in a breakout session about expanding Turning Point USA on college and high school campuses during AmericaFest in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2025.
Murray said the group is developing a plan to move forward and intends to pursue additional appeals in the spring semester. Loyola officials have confirmed that students may file another appeal and indicated no new materials have been submitted since the SGA president upheld the December ruling.
University Statement
Loyola University New Orleans told reporters that following the Dec. 3 appeal, the SGA Senate voted to deny the charter application and the SGA president upheld the decision. The university noted students may pursue another appeal in the spring, and there have been no new filings since the decision was affirmed.
The Student Government Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
