University of Chicago: Denial of TPUSA’s Application for Recognition

The University of Chicago, FIRE’s 2022 top-ranked university for free speech, violated students’ expressive rights by denying recognition to the student group Turning Point USA. The Registered Student Organization Committee cited what it viewed as TPUSA’s similarity to other student organizations and a lack of members and events to justify its decision to deny recognition. UChicago administration then denied TPUSA's appeal. FIRE wrote UChicago on April 28, reminding it of its laudable commitment to free expression and association and urging it to recognize TPUSA and other student groups in a viewpoint-neutral manner. Even after conversations with FIRE, UChicago defended its practice of denying groups for similarity with other groups and refused to recognize TPUSA.