Turning Point USA Chapter at Univ. of Tennessee (Chattanooga) Approved, Despite Student Government Opposition

From Chattanooga Times Free Press (Mason Edwards):

"While the Student Government Association may voice opinions, recognition of student organizations is determined by the UTC dean of students and chancellor," UTC spokesperson JAy Blackman said in an emailed statement. "Turning Point USA has been authorized in accordance with university policy and the law."

The Student Government Association denied the organization's approval in a vote Tuesday. The vote served as a recommendation to the Dean of Students Office.

Public universities may not deny student groups recognition or other generally available benefits based on the groups' viewpoint: "The State may not … discriminate against speech on the basis of … viewpoint." And that's true even if the group would be free to operate outside the benefits program: "If restrictions on access to a limited public forum are viewpoint discriminatory, the ability of a group to exist outside the forum would not cure the constitutional shortcoming."

Comments

[Dr. Ed 2]

WOW....

This is the Southworth Part Deux that a lot of us have been waiting for -- the problem we all had with the original Southworth decision was that these student governments are notoriously content based in both their recognition and funding of student groups.

Worse, some institutions, e.g. UMass Amherst, prohibit organizations that are considered "dilitary" to an existing student organization. For example, a Turning Point chapter would be denied because there is a Campus Republican chapter on campus. The TPUSA folks would be told to join the CRs instead.

[Longtobefree]

Once all government funding of education stops, who cares?

[Dr. Ed 2]

We're talking about mandatory student fees here, not govt funds.

[David Nieporent]

dilitary

While I can figure out what this is supposed to mean from context, I have no idea what actual word Dr. Ed is trying to say.

[y81]

Dilutive?

[Dr. Ed 2]

That has the right meaning, but it wasn't the one they used -- although it could have been a misspelled version of it, and then pronounced based on that spelling.

[thesafesurfer]

More evidence of the sad decline of American higher education. Cull the system by ending all government loans for anything besides a STEM degree. If you want a degree in a non-STEM major pay for it yourself. This will lead to the gutting of credentialed idiots in the academy overnight and good riddance.

[Stupid Government Tricks]

No. ALL including STEM. STEM graduates can pay for their degrees and deserve no free ride on my tax dollars.

[Sarcastr0]

Stem graduates work for that money. Science isn’t done by the professor, it’s a team of grad students and postdocs with the prof directing.

[y81]

You seem to suffer from the peculiar but widespread delusion that STEM students and faculty are less woke than those in the humanities. Granted, your life probably hasn't allowed you to spend very much time in academic environments, but as one more privileged, I can assure you that the two groups are almost 100% politically aligned

[Dr. Ed 2]

Agreed...

[MollyGodiva]

Good. Let all the college students see just how hateful and fascist Turning Point USA is.