A Rutgers associate professor has signed a petition calling for the removal of Turning Point USA’s campus chapter, accusing the group of “promoting hate speech and inciting violence.” The move drew nationwide attention and renewed debate over free speech and ideological tolerance in academia.
The petition was hosted on Change.org and alleges that TPUSA’s presence is harmful to campus unity. While Change.org does not publicly share the full list of signers, Fox News identified Tia Kolbaba, an associate professor of religion at Rutgers, as one of the petition’s signees. The petition states that TPUSA’s activities convey messages that “promote hate speech” and “incite violence.”
Rutgers University responded by reaffirming its commitment to free speech and academic freedom. In a statement, the institution emphasized the goal of maintaining an environment where “opinions can be shared without fear of intimidation or harassment.” The university added that it does not comment on individual personnel matters.
This incident underscores a growing challenge on campuses: the tension between ideological dissent and freedom of association.
