A Closer Look Into Turning Point USA at Connecticut College

Politics is often discussed at a liberal arts college like Connecticut College. However, many students, faculty, and alumni alike, view the campus as an echo chamber for left-wing beliefs where people are only familiar with faux conservative talking points from the most extreme ends of the right-wing movement. Emmitt Wilson ‘29 and the new Turning Point USA chapter deeply believe that notion and plan to change that.

Starting this semester, a new chapter of Turning Point USA was introduced at the campus of Connecticut College. Turning Point USA is a right-wing, non-profit organization, co-founded by the late conservative activist and political commentator Charlie Kirk. The organization has been active in the political field with its Turning Point Action branch that gets involved in political campaigns and supports Republican candidates. Most notably, they supported Donald Trump’s reelection campaigns in 2020 and 2024. They supported President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including offering bus rides to Washington DC for students wishing to participate in the January 6, 2021 protests which became an attempted insurrection. Turning Point Action also played a significant role in President Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, campaigning in swing states like Arizona, and holding tablings on college campuses across the country, including their Live Free Tour which they broadcasted nationwide.

Given the history of Turning Point USA, as well as the face of its organization, the creation of a chapter on the campus of Connecticut College came with a lot of controversy. Much scrutiny was directed towards the new President of Conn’s Turning Point USA chapter, Emmitt Wilson ‘29.