Turning Point USA returns to Bethel with a goal of civility

Elise Kalin sat behind the unlit fire pit Sept. 29 in the Kresge Courtyard. Thirty-two Bethel students began to trickle into the lopsided circle of chairs, chatting amongst themselves quietly. Three weeks after the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA – Kirk’s nonprofit political advocacy organization – hosted its first meeting at Bethel University in five years.

While each chapter varies from college to college, the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) website states that they aim to “[guide] citizens through development of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation, so they can meaningfully engage in their communities to restore traditional American values.” Thirteen years after the organization’s establishment, over 900 chapters span the United States, according to the TPUSA website.

“The biggest thing is that it’s civil,” Bethel University Chapter President Elise Kalin said. “Everybody can share their views from a traditional perspective, coming at it with kindness and trying to better each other and not win the argument.”

Despite not yet being an official club of Bethel University, Kalin works alongside Vice President Laura Hagel and Secretary and Treasurer Emma Kotrba to spread the word via Instagram posts, GroupMe messages, posters hung around the campus and word of mouth. 113 Bethel students have joined the GroupMe, with the number increasing as more students hear about it. But the growing community of TPUSA’s new chapter is not the only goal; Kalin said they also want to reintroduce a change in tone around political conversations at Bethel.

In a politically polarizing time, Kalin said it’s important to encourage students to get involved instead of skirting around the topic of politics.

“[It is] a failure of our society and failure of our public institutions that we have stopped teaching civics classes [and] ceased on a public discourse,” senior political science major Peter Wicklander said.

The lack of respectful discourse around politics has left a noticeable gap on campus; Bethel no longer has a Young Republicans or Young Democrats club to support these kinds of discussions. The students bringing TPUSA to campus want to combat the lack of dicourse and create open conversations for people of all perspectives.

“We shouldn’t be afraid to express how we feel in our opinions,” senior business major Greyson Johnson said. “But [at] the same time, I don’t want to make it my whole personality and my whole thing, because I do think there’s importance to exposing yourself to all varieties of people.”

After a brief introduction from Kalin about the club’s current leadership and mission, many of the attending students lingered to speak with the three members about political issues or ask questions about what future meetings would look like. Even those who showed up late to the meeting stayed for an hour after Kalin finished talking, eager to connect with the club’s president and get involved.

“I think something that Charlie Kirk did a lot, and he did really well, was he let people talk,” Johnson said. “[Kirk] heard people out, and then after he let them talk, he listened, and he gave them his thoughts on it. And most of them were very cordial conversations that I think both sides could take away from if they were open to that.”

TPUSA’s Bethel chapter wants to offer this opportunity for students, regardless of political alignment, major, or personal beliefs. Looking to meet for dinner in the dining center a few times a month, Kalin wants to give as many students as possible the chance to voice their thoughts on hot-button issues and incorporate their faith.

“I would just say pray for us, and pray for what we’re trying to do,” says Kalin. “And ensure that our conversations are civil and Christ-like.”