Concerns Over Conservatism at Fort Lewis College

A conservative student leader at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, expressed that many students feel a significant apprehension about joining the campus chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). This hesitation stems from the fact that conservatives make up a small percentage of the student body.

“Generally speaking, a lot of students are worried about being excluded by their peers or not fitting in—it’s really a minority group,” said TPUSA Chapter President Rachel Cook. She noted that having conservative beliefs is not widely accepted on campus, leading to a lack of respect and very few opportunities for civil discussions.

Cook stepped into the leadership role to encourage a greater diversity of thought on campus, asserting that Fort Lewis College really needs more balanced conversations that reflect various political perspectives. “We’ve had some pretty intense incidents,” she recounted. “One of our officers was spat on while we were tabling, and there have been harassment issues. We often work with pro-life advocates, and even recently, people have been aggressive towards them, tearing up their signs and, at times, physically threatening.” Many choose not to take legal action in these instances.

Despite Cook’s efforts, the membership of the TPUSA chapter has remained stagnant, as students continue to fear retaliation in both social and academic environments.

This lack of growth is notable especially after the recognition of the chapter by the student government last year, which sparked a wave of dissent across campus—much of it documented on video.

David Peters, a former chair of the La Plata County GOP, reminisced about the ongoing atmosphere surrounding the student group. “Their numbers haven’t really grown. A lot of students are just hesitant to join because they are worried about backlash,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Fort Lewis College administration reassured that the safety of students is paramount. A spokesperson mentioned that there have been no reports of harassment involving TPUSA members in the current academic year, emphasizing the seriousness with which the college treats safety concerns and the systems in place for reporting negative incidents.

These unfolding tensions occur against a backdrop of a nationwide uptick in interest in TPUSA chapters following the tragic assassination of co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025. In light of this, the organization stated it has received over 120,000 requests from students wanting to form local chapters.

Initially, a senior named Jonah Flynn led the charge to establish the TPUSA chapter. Although student government initially dismissed his proposal, they eventually approved it during an emergency session. This decision ignited immediate backlash from anti-TPUSA activists present at the meeting, with a police report noting around 70 individuals engaged in heated exchanges that spilled into the lobby.

Despite the turmoil, Cook remains hopeful about the future activities of the chapter. “This year’s vision involves discussing policies affecting our community here in Colorado,” she stated. “We just held a vigil for Charlie Kirk, which was truly moving. We’re looking forward to upcoming events related to the Second Amendment and have plans to go shooting soon. While still hashing out some details, we’re really excited about what’s ahead this semester.”