Students at Loyola University New Orleans’s College of Law have joined undergraduates in seeking an appeal after the institution’s Student Government Association (SGA) rejected an attempt by Turning Point USA to charter a campus chapter, according to reporting by Fox News. The law‑students argue the decision was based not on explicit policy violations but on “subjective reasoning.”
The motion to deny the chapter occurred on October 15, when the SGA voted against official recognition of the proposed TPUSA group at Loyola. Key consequences of the denial include loss of access to university funding and ability to reserve campus space—rights granted to recognized student organizations. Law‑student Ethan Estis, who helped draft the appeal, noted that the SGA’s reasoning did not reference specific rules or clear violations, but instead focused on alignment with “Jesuit values.” In his view, the decision raised questions of fairness in the student‑governance process.
The university responded with a statement emphasizing that all recognized student organizations follow the same student‑led chartering process run by the SGA and its Court of Review. Loyola affirmed its commitment to “fairness, inclusion and respect for differing viewpoints” within its Jesuit, Catholic mission. Opponents of the charter cited concerns over TPUSA’s national reputation and statements by its founder, claiming potential conflict with the Jesuit values of the institution.
The SGA’s Court of Review has acknowledged receipt of the appeal and aims to render a decision before November 21. Law students assisting the appeal say they hope the process will clarify and strengthen the transparency of student‑organization recognition at Loyola. If the appeal fails, questions remain about how private religious institutions govern student groups and whether peer‑governance may involve ideological filtering rather than objective criteria.
