Standing for Free Speech and Justice at
St. John’s University

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By Phil Orenstein

On the evening of November 14, 1970, a plane carrying the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team—along with its entire coaching staff, boosters, media members, and fans—crashed, killing everyone on board. In an instant, a proud football program and an entire community in Huntington, West Virginia, were plunged into unimaginable grief.

Marshall University had a storied football tradition and a fierce, unifying spirit. Yet in the wake of the tragedy, the university president and Board of Governors seriously considered suspending the program altogether. There were only a handful of players left—those who had missed the flight due to injury or illness—and no coaching staff. The emotional weight was overwhelming, and the future seemed impossible.

Then something extraordinary happened.

One of the surviving players rallied students and local youth to show up outside the Board meeting. Hundreds gathered, fueled by grief, resolve, and unity, chanting three simple words that echoed across the campus and into history: “We Are Marshall!”

The program was saved. A new coach was hired. The team was rebuilt from the ground up, powered not by wins at first, but by heart, perseverance, and the unwavering support of the community. After early losses, Marshall stunned the nation with a dramatic comeback victory in its first home game—reigniting pride and hope. The story was later immortalized in the film We Are Marshall.

That same spirit, “from the ashes, we rise” is alive today.

Following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and the ensuing backlash against Turning Point USA chapters on college campuses, many assumed the movement would falter. Instead, the opposite occurred. Across the country, students rallied with renewed determination, declaring: “We Are Charlie Kirk.”

Charlie’s courageous wife, Erika Kirk, embodied that resolve. Stepping forward as CEO and Chairwoman of Turning Point USA, she carried on her husband’s mission with grace and strength—continuing campus tours and expanding outreach. Since September 10th, student involvement has surged. TPUSA now counts more than one million students nationwide, with over 140,000 joining since Charlie’s death. There are more than 4,000 active student chapters, growing daily at an extraordinary pace.

And yet, despite this nationwide momentum, and the fact that liberal NYU, as well as Baruch College and other CUNY campuses in NYC host TPUSA chapters, or chapters in formation, you will not find an approved Turning Point USA chapter at St. John’s University.

That fact should give pause.

St. John’s is a Catholic and Vincentian institution, one that proudly affirms values of human dignity, moral courage, and justice. Turning Point USA explicitly stands for faith, freedom, and love of country. One would reasonably expect a campus committed to those principles to welcome viewpoint diversity and civil discourse.

Instead, students have been trying for nearly ten years to gain approval for a TPUSA chapter at St. John’s, only to be denied repeatedly.

The most recent denial is the most troubling.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, St. John’s sophomore Massimo Guerriero believed the time was right to try again. Inspired by the national surge of student engagement, he organized and gathered interest from nearly 80 St. John’s students, a remarkable showing. While some students feared backlash or personal attacks, the majority stood firm, refusing to be intimidated.

Guerriero and his fellow students presented their application to the Student Government, Inc. (SGI), the body with authority over student organization recognition. Their presentation was thoughtful, well-prepared, and focused squarely on non-partisan civil discourse, free speech, and values aligned with the university’s mission.

What they encountered instead was mockery.

Members of the panel reportedly responded with derisive laughter and hostile questioning, revealing open contempt for TPUSA and for Charlie Kirk himself. Shortly thereafter, the SGI voted to deny the application—issuing a boilerplate rejection letter with no explanation. There is no appeals process.

Meanwhile, St. John’s hosts numerous left-wing student organizations, including overtly ideological groups. Yet for years, there have been no recognized Republican or conservative organizations on campus.

That is not diversity.
That is viewpoint discrimination.

A student organization may not be denied recognition simply because its ideas are unpopular with those in power. Free speech, free exercise, and equal access are not privileges—they are foundational rights. Charlie Kirk dedicated his life to defending those principles, and students at St. John’s are entitled to them.

Importantly, St. John’s is not alone in initially denying TPUSA recognition—but it risks becoming an outlier if it refuses to correct course.

Across the country, similar denials have been reversed after public pressure and legal action. At Fort Lewis College in Colorado, the student government initially rejected, then unanimously approved a TPUSA chapter after sustained public pressure. At Eastern Illinois University, administrators overruled the student senate and granted recognition. At Wichita State University, FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) warned that denial would violate First Amendment obligations—resulting in eventual approval, to name a few examples.

The lesson is clear: when sunlight is applied, fairness prevails. Now it is St. John’s turn.

We are calling on the administration of St. John’s University to do the right thing—to reverse the unjust decision of the student government and approve the Turning Point USA chapter. This can be done respectfully, firmly, and effectively.

We urge our members and supporters and St, John’s alumni to write, email, and call senior administrators, including:

• Rev. Brian J. Shanley, President of St. John’s University – pres@stjohns.edu
• David N. Gachigo, Senior Associate Dean of Students – gachigod@stjohns.edu

Additional contacts and a sample letter are available on our website at www.QVGOP.org under “Recent Posts.”

Just as Marshall’s community rallied to save something worth fighting for, we must stand with the students of St. John’s. Their cause is just. Their voices matter. And their determination echoes a familiar refrain:

We Are Charlie Kirk.