St John's University student group blocks TPUSA campus chapter

The student government at St. John’s University in Queens has blocked a bid by Turning Point USA to open a chapter on campus following the assassination of the organization’s cofounder, Charlie Kirk.

St. John’s student government has “sole authority” to approve or deny new student organizations and voted to reject the Turning Point USA chapter. According to the New York Post, a university spokesperson said organizations seeking to create or “revitalize” chapters must pass a four-round “Power to Organize” approval process.

“During the Fall 2025 semester, only 4 of 19 proposed organizations successfully navigated the approval process,” the spokesperson said. “St. John’s students interested in Turning Point USA are encouraged to reapply to SGI in the Spring or pursue other existing alternatives for department-sponsored organizational support.”

The decision by St. John’s, a prominent Catholic university, has drawn backlash from critics. “Charlie Kirk was an advocate for civil discourse on campus. That was his trademark,” said Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, per the Post. “Why any school, especially a Catholic one, would find fault with that boggles the mind. St. John’s idea of inclusion clearly extends to the LGBTQ cause, but not the cause of free speech.”

“The alumni at St. John’s are known for their commitment to traditional moral values, but in recent years the school seems to have lost its moorings,” Donohue continued. “They need to speak up, preferably with their wallets.”

According to The College Fix, this marks the second time an application to create a Turning Point USA chapter on campus has been denied. Club founder Massimo Guerriero told the outlet he reapplied after Kirk’s assassination and claimed the student government appeared biased during the process, even “giggling” as he presented. 

“Many of the questions posed were not centered on our proposal or compliance with university requirements but instead focused on how we would respond to potential backlash tied to the ideologies of TPUSA’s founder,” Guerriero said.