{"id":226126,"date":"2026-04-10T10:33:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/226126\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:33:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:33:06","slug":"uthmeier-blasts-orlando-law-school-for-denying-tpusa-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/226126\/","title":{"rendered":"Uthmeier blasts Orlando law school for denying TPUSA chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to an Orlando law school<\/a> Thursday claiming \u201cblatant viewpoint discrimination\u201d after it rejected a student-run chapter of Turning Point USA.<\/p>\n

Uthmeier\u2019s letter followed a public claim from a student at Barry University\u2019s law school that a dean denied a student request to establish a chapter of the conservative political organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.<\/p>\n

Christina Malsky said the dean\u2019s letter claimed Turning Point\u2019s activism and campaign style was \u201cinconsistent with the university\u2019s educational philosophy of reflective dialogue and respect for human dignity,\u201d according to a story published on Turning Point\u2019s website last month.<\/p>\n

Barry University is a private, Catholic school in South Florida, with its law school campus in Orlando near Baldwin Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe letter asserted that the \u2018stated mission, national affiliation, and programmatic focus\u2019 of Turning Point USA are not aligned with Barry University\u2019s Catholic and Adrian Dominican heritage,\u201d Malsky told the organization.<\/a><\/p>\n

Barry University said Thursday it had received Uthmeier\u2019s letter and was \u201clooking into the concerns that were raised.\u201d<\/p>\n

The September killing of Kirk, a charismatic right-wing activist, at a Utah university prompted a sharp increase in interest in forming Turning Point chapters at schools and colleges across the country.<\/p>\n

Kirk, 31, was a confidant of President Donald Trump and a combative conservative leader who openly criticized racial justice movements, the news media and LGBTQ+ rights.<\/p>\n

Critics said his views perpetuated racist, anti-immigrant, anti-feminist and homophobic ideas. Uthmeier, like other supporters, said Kirk \u201cexemplified a return to civic and peaceful debate.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his letter, Uthmeier demanded Barry University \u201ccease its discriminatory practices and grant students equal access to form and operate a Turning Point USA chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s denial violates students\u2019 free speech and runs counter to its claim it \u201cvalues discussion of differing viewpoints,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is admirable that your students want to bring a chapter of those values to Barry Law. It is not only consistent with the University\u2019s purpose; it is an affirmative good the school should encourage and embrace,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Uthmeier and Malsky both pointed to on-campus groups at Barry University that promoted LGBTQ rights, claiming those organizations went against the school\u2019s values.<\/p>\n

Uthmeier\u2019s letter mentioned OUTLaw, an organization on Barry\u2019s campus, that serves as \u201ca forum for exploring the legal issues faced by people in the LGBTQ+ community,\u201d according to the group\u2019s page.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe this denial is not about programming, conduct, or policy compliance. It is about the TPUSA name and perceived political identity,\u201d Malsky told the organization.<\/p>\n

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