A new chapter of Turning Point USA has been established at NWACC. The organization, founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery, promotes conservative and libertarian ideas on college campuses across the country. The group has faced criticism for its rhetoric and approach to campus activism, and Kirk’s death has reignited conversations about the group nationwide, with some questioning its influence while others call it a needed voice in politics.
Turning Point USA was approved as an official student organization at NWACC in early October 2025, and is led by President Andrea Francis, with Marc Turner, Performing Arts and Communication Chair, serving as the faculty sponsor. The group held its first tabling event on Oct. 16 in Bogle Plaza, handing out candy and sharing information about its goals and planned activities.
“A lot of us followed Charlie Kirk pretty closely, and we liked his debate style and how respectful the dialogue was,” said Ava Franco, Social Media Chair for the NWACC chapter. “So after he was assassinated, I think a lot of us felt very inclined to talk about things and get people talking again. So that’s what we’re trying to do here. We want people to talk again. We want to get back to the great foundation of what the country was started on, which I think is compromise.”
At the national level, Turning Point USA operates on hundreds of campuses and hosts large student conferences featuring conservative speakers. Over the years, some organizations and scholars have expressed concern about the group’s rhetoric and its impact on campus climates. A 2024 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center described Turning Point USA as part of “the hard right” and said its activities are often designed to “rile up divisions on campus.” In a separate Wired report, founder Charlie Kirk was criticized for remarks suggesting that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was “a mistake,” a statement that scholars said alienates students of color and others whose rights the law protects.
Locally, Franco said the NWACC chapter’s focus is on open discussion. “We want to encourage free speech, and get people involved, ideally,” she said. “We know that not everyone is going to agree with us, and actually that’s what we’re standing up for. We think everyone has the right to their own opinion and views.”
The group plans to start small, holding regular meetings and information tables. “We’re planning to do a lot of chapter meetings, which is when we get everyone together and we talk about current events or, you know, play fun little silly games to get people involved and informed,” Franco said. “We’re hoping to eventually get [a speaker], but since we are small-scale right now, the semester might just look a little different.”
Asked about the criticism directed at Turning Point USA nationally, Franco said, “We would encourage everyone to keep very respectful dialogues. Everyone has their own opinion, and that is what makes this country so great, that we all have that right. So we would encourage everyone to keep being respectful of one another.”
Students interested in learning more can find the group on Instagram at @turningpointusa_nwacc. “If you just want to come and sit in on a meeting, we’d love to have you and talk to you,” Franco said.
