The University of Arkansas chapter of Turning Point USA announced Monday it is disaffiliating from the national organization and rebranding, citing concerns over messaging and the group’s overall direction.
Turning Point USA is a conservative student organization that promotes political activism and conservative values on college campuses nationwide. The group was founded by Charlie Kirk.
In a three-page statement posted to Instagram on March 16, chapter president Dino Fantegrossi said his time with the organization dates back to his freshman year.
“I joined TPUSA the first semester of my freshman year. That was ten semesters ago,” Fantegrossi said. “This chapter has meant the world to me, and I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished.”
Fantegrossi noted the organization had provided “countless opportunities,” but said concerns had grown among the chapter’s leadership about the national group’s focus.
“It has seemed that this organization has lost sight of what is truly important. We are no longer focused on our guiding north star that is, fighting for conservative policy, principles, and values,” the statement said. “Instead, it feels that we have become consumed with metrics, creating the next viral cultural moment… we have become reactionary when we need to be proactive.”
According to the statement, the chapter’s executive board unanimously voted to disaffiliate and will now operate under the name Young American Revival.
Fantegrossi also expressed concerns about how the national organization has invoked its founder in messaging.
“We are generally put off by how Charlie Kirk has been used by TPUSA,” he said. “Statements like ‘Charlie would have said’ and ‘Charlie would have wanted’ have felt in many instances disingenuous and manipulative.”
The newly formed Young American Revival chapter at the University of Arkansas says it plans to focus on advocating for Christian conservative values and supporting grassroots conservative candidates.
The decision comes less than a week after TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk visited Arkansas alongside Sarah Huckabee Sanders for an event highlighting the organization.
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