Barry Law overturns Turning Point USA chapter rejection following pressure from the state attorney general.

Turning Point USA Chapter Approved After Attorney General’s Intervention

Initially, the Barry University School of Law in Florida had denied the establishment of a Turning Point USA chapter. However, following intervention from Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer, the law school has reversed its decision. Usmeyer expressed his satisfaction with the change, stating it gives students a chance to engage with a broader range of ideas beyond what he referred to as a “left-wing echo chamber.”

On April 22, the law school announced its new stance, agreeing to permit the formation of the chapter after Usmeyer pointed out that their previous denial constituted viewpoint discrimination, which might violate students’ rights to expression and association.

Controversy Surrounding the Student Senate

In another development, the Student Senate at California Lutheran University rejected the re-establishment of a Turning Point USA chapter, reflecting ongoing debates about campus free speech.

Usmeyer had previously indicated in an April 9 letter that not allowing a TPUSA chapter at Barry Law likely infringes on students’ contractually guaranteed freedoms. He highlighted that such a denial restricts meaningful dialogue and undermines students’ ability to engage in collective efforts for the common good. He also mentioned that the law school has an OUTLaw chapter, an LGBTQ+ organization, which appears inconsistent with their treatment of the TPUSA chapter.

He remarked on the apparent contradictions in Barry University’s stance, noting that while it identifies as a Catholic institution promoting diversity, it seems to selectively apply these principles, particularly when it comes to conservative students.

Usmeyer further pointed out that the endorsement of OUTLaw contradicts the Catholic Church’s views on transgender issues, emphasizing that the recognition of conflicting student organizations suggests a biased approach toward TPUSA’s establishment.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, tragically shot and killed during an event on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University, had been a prominent figure in these discussions about campus conservative groups.