The student government at Loyola University has once again rejected the bid of a Turning Point USA chapter to become a registered student organization (RSO). This decision, marked as the second denial, was made Wednesday evening.
After the initial rejection in October, the Turning Point students successfully appealed the decision, prompting the school’s court of review to remand the case back to the student government. However, the student government has yet to provide an explanation for their repeated refusal to grant official status to the conservative group.
Loyola New Orleans law student Ethan Estis, who supported the undergraduates during their appeal, expressed his frustration to Fox News Digital, stating, “It is sheer politics, once more.”
Estis criticized the student government association’s (SGA) rigorous rule enforcement, pointing out that these standards were not applied during the initial Turning Point meeting.
A gathering of Loyola University New Orleans students convened for a student government meeting on December 3, 2025, to deliberate on the Turning Point USA chapter’s application. (Photo credit: Ethan Estis)
Estis described the scene before the meeting commenced, noting that the room was allegedly at “capacity,” prompting the SGA Vice President to insist that some attendees leave to avoid a fire marshal violation, which would otherwise result in campus police intervention. An estimated 80 to 90 people were present at the meeting.
“Unlike the last SGA meeting, none of these procedures within the SGA, such as wanting to be within the fire marshal capacity threshold, entering executive session, etc., were followed last time,” Estis said. “It was clear they aimed to follow and use the rules to their benefit, though I am skeptical how far they were allowed to interpret them.
“Some of these statements were absolutely appalling because these meetings are open to everyone, including members of the public, and their failure to consider the large number of folks who would attend lies on them, not the spectators.”
Marquette Hall on the Loyola University campus in New Orleans. (matejphoto/Getty Images)
At least one SGA member wanted to hold the meeting without outside spectators despite the fact that SGA meetings are open to the public, according to Estis.
“At one point, before the meeting started, one senator asked if there could be a motion raised to begin the meeting ‘only with undergraduate students in the room present’ to which the VP responded, ‘Unfortunately, our bylaws do not allow such power to be authorized,’” Estis continued.
Estis described a few protesters with signs outside the campus building where the meeting was held, adding more showed up as the group of Turning Point students, numbering about 30, walked to the school’s chapel to pray and debrief after the decision.
He said one sign said “F— TPUSA.”
People raise placards that say “This is our Turning Point” during a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Ariz., Sept. 21, 2025. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
He said protesters chanted things about Charlie Kirk, along with “no KKK USA.”
The school’s SGA set off a firestorm after its first denial of the chapter on Oct. 15. The Louisiana GOP offered to support the students in any way possible during the battle. Chairman Derek Babcock said if they were denied again, the party would be standing by to “right the injustice.”
In mid-November, the Turning Point students filed an appeal with the school’s court of review and won. The court cited deviations from standard SGA voting procedures, along with subjective and irrelevant objections to the Turning Point chapter, including fear for student safety and the “campus climate.”
However, the Loyola student handbook mandated that the court’s decision be remanded to the SGA, the same body that denied the chapter in the first place.
Estis said there is no further appeals process.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, distributes MAGA hats to the public May 1, 2025, during a TPUSA event in California. (Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Despite the denial, we’re going to move forward externally,” he said.
“In my ultimate opinion, no organization, no matter if it is TPUSA or [Students for a Democratic Society] … should be grated [sic] or denied RSO status by members of the SGA, who are themselves an RSO,” he said. “It is not right, and we aim to correct this wrong using any means that are both necessary and proper.”
“At its December 3 meeting, the Student Government Association (SGA) Senate voted to deny the charter application for a student chapter of Turning Point USA,” a Loyola New Orleans spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The denial came after a renewed review of the charter application following an appeal. The SGA President upheld the Senate’s vote.”
“Under Loyola’s governance structure, SGA is responsible for reviewing and voting on student organization applications. Loyola supports the integrity of the student governance process, including the ability to appeal, and remains committed to fostering a campus environment grounded in respectful dialogue, inclusion, and the Jesuit value of care for the whole person.”
The SGA did not return a request for comment.
