Florida Attorney General Slams Barry University Over Purported TPUSA Snub

Taking a break from making sure certain felons have access to firearms and entering debates about beauty pageants, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier this week joined the fray in a battle over (checks notes) college social clubs.

The top prosecutor in the Sunshine State Thursday issued a stern rebuke of a decision by Barry University School of Law to deny students the ability to start a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the controversial conservative/Christian nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk. Uthmeier took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to air his grievances against the Orlando campus offshoot of the Miami Shores-based university, famously the alma mater of prolific X warrior and Trump whisperer Laura Loomer.

“Barry Law School students were denied the ability to start a TPUSA chapter, raising concerns about whether its students are permitted to exchange diverse ideas,” Uthmeier wrote on X. “This is wrong and could cause potential employers to question the quality of its graduates, and it may violate its obligations under Florida law.”

Attached to his tweet was an official two-page letter from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, questioning the decision and arguing the denial would have consequences for graduates.

“The Office of the Dean stated that TPUSA emphasizes ‘a model of political advocacy and confrontation that is inconsistent with the university’s educational philosophy’ and that ‘the perspectives and methods associated with Turning Point USA do not support (the university’s) mission.’ The students were told that the university ‘values discussion of differing viewpoints,’ but that such discourse ‘must occur in a context of intellectual humility, empathy, and shared purpose, rather than ideological confrontation or partisan activism.'”

In response to Uthmeier’s letter, a Barry University spokesperson tells New Times, “We are in receipt of the Florida Attorney General’s letter and are looking into the concerns that were raised.”

TPUSA’s media team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The group is probably best known for its videos of Kirk visiting college campuses to argue with students about conservative talking points under the guise of political debate. According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a union representing academic professionals,TPUSA has regularly engaged in racist, homophobic, and transphobic speech while on campuses.

“TPUSA chapters have been known to stage and then film controversies with students, faculty, and administrators, releasing edited videos of these interactions,” according to AAUP. “A film team for the TPUSA online show ‘Frontlines,’ for example, have confronted faculty on campus. In one case, at Arizona State University, they engaged in a violent altercation leaving a faculty member bloodied. Students affiliated with TPUSA have also been known to record classes without the knowledge or consent of their faculty.”

Uthmeier, ever the champion for conservative causes, argues the university is being hypocritical by saying TPUSA’s values and behavior aren’t congruent with Barry University values. He argues the university’s inclusion of groups like OUTLaw (an LGBTQ+ organization) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) contradict the university’s Catholic values. He cites the unsubstantiated claim that the former promotes “transgenderism for children” and claims the latter’s pro-choice stance is antithetical to the Catholic church’s position on abortion.

“This is blatant viewpoint discrimination that violates the school’s professed policies and values and may raise consumer protection concerns,” he wrote in the letter to university officials. “It raises serious concerns about whether students are encouraged to engage with different perspectives and may cause potential employers, including this office, to question the quality of education offered at Barry Law, which would obviously affect the career prospects of its graduates, including opportunities for future judicial appointments.”