At Vanguard University, a small Christian college in Costa Mesa, California, a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has found itself in the spotlight after the school revoked its official recognition. The decision comes amid a new policy limiting student organizations deemed politically, ideologically, or religiously driven, sparking debate over how Christian universities balance faith, free expression, and political engagement.
Photo Credit: @TPUSA (X)RELATED: A Paper Called Trans People “Demonic.” University Punished Instructor Instead
Student Leadership Faces Restrictions
Sadie Burnett, a third-year student and president of Vanguard’s Turning Point chapter, said the group had been active and well-received on campus prior to the policy shift.
“Since 2023, we’ve had a lively and very active presence on campus… It was even something that made us stand out as a Christian university, was the fact that Turning Point was practiced, and it was not only practiced, but it was also celebrated,” Burnett told Fox News Digital.
While the chapter can still meet, its gatherings are now limited to outdoor spaces, and it cannot enjoy the privileges that recognized student organizations receive. These include funding, reserving rooms for events, hosting tables to engage fellow students, and participating in recruitment during club rush.
Burnett said, “We’re not ‘conservative,’ we’re just students hanging out… some chapter members feel unsafe being out in the open given the ‘anti-conservative’ sentiments on campus and online.”
Burnett also noted that administrators could not provide a clear definition of what qualifies as an ideological or political group, even as other campus organizations, particularly racial and cultural clubs, remain fully recognized.
Turning Point USA Responds
The national Turning Point USA organization weighed in, calling the decision disappointing. In a statement to The Dallas Express, the group said:
“It is deeply disappointing to see a Christian university distance itself from student groups it considers politically or ideologically driven. Institutions tasked with shaping the next generation of Christian professionals should be cultivating thoughtful engagement, not restricting it.”
The organization emphasized its mission to encourage Christians to actively participate both in church and in broader civic life. It also suggested Vanguard’s move is part of a broader pattern at Christian universities, where conservative student organizations are increasingly limited. “Vanguard is unfortunately not the first Christian university to deny a TPUSA chapter, and sadly, will most likely not be the last,” the statement read, noting that past reversals of similar decisions have been possible at other campuses.
Vanguard University Explains Policy
Vanguard administrators defended their approach as consistent with a broader educational mission. Amanda Lebrecht, vice president for student development, said the university had been moving away from political clubs since 2023. “University policy does not permit campus clubs affiliated with political advocacy initiatives,” Lebrecht told Fox News Digital, emphasizing that the approach is intended to foster thoughtful engagement in a way consistent with the university’s Christian mission.
Instead of formal political organizations, students are encouraged to participate in initiatives coordinated with the administration. Past programs include the ‘Year of Civility’ and this year’s ‘Courageous Conversations,’ which featured speakers such as pro-life activist Lila Rose from Live Action. Students can also engage in academic social clubs hosted through departments such as political science and history.
Lebrecht highlighted the school’s commitment to student safety, noting that students have direct access to the head of campus safety. Vanguard shares its campus with the Costa Mesa Police Department and the city’s fire department. She added that the university continues to support long-standing cultural and heritage clubs, such as the Black Student Union, which have existed for more than a decade and remain fully recognized.
Balancing Faith, Politics, and Campus Life
The situation at Vanguard highlights the tension Christian universities face when balancing faith-based principles, student political engagement, and campus cohesion. The university frames its policies as a way to guide student involvement in alignment with its educational and spiritual mission, channeling activism through structured programs rather than independent political clubs.
REFERENCE: Dallas Express, Fox News