Seton Hall’s Student Government Association (SGA) denied Turning Point USA's (TPUSA) request for club recognition after the organization failed to meet several criteria in the approval process, according to SGA President Jackson Vaughn.
SHU’s TPUSA chapter reemerged on Instagram in September after a two-year hiatus, posting a tribute to Charlie Kirk following his death. The group also launched a GroupMe, which currently has 91 members, “as a chance to stay connected with interested SHU students, and create a welcoming community for young conservatives.” A later Instagram post, which has since been removed, suggested the club planned to begin hosting events on campus in the upcoming spring semester.
To gain official recognition, new organizations must complete SGA’s three-step evaluation process. First, applications are reviewed by the Student Organization Advisory Committee (SOAC). If approved, they advance to a Senate vote, where senators evaluate the application using a standardized rubric. Clubs that receive a two-thirds majority move to a final administrative review by the Dean of Student Engagement.
The same rubric is used to evaluate all clubs, Vaughn said, and measures four areas: mission alignment, structure, sustainability and readiness to contribute to a positive campus environment.
Senators expressed “reasons for denial” for TPUSA in all four of the categories, Vaughn confirmed.
Materials associated with the organization’s national branch also factored into the vote.
“Concerns were raised that the materials associated with the organization at the national level include statements and activities that do not align with the rubric,” Vaughn said, noting that SGA does not categorize these as “conduct concerns,” but acknowledges they played a role in senators’ evaluations.
The club did not receive a two-thirds majority, with only eight of 15 eligible voters voting to approve it, and was thus formally denied in accordance with SGA procedure. Feedback was shared directly with the executive board.
The SHU Democrats Club, whose application was reviewed independently, was approved with a 14–2 vote.
“Each organization is evaluated independently and based on its own application,” Vaughn said. “We apply the same process to every single submission.”
TPUSA’s national organization later criticized SHU in a public statement for approving a “left-wing group on campus.”
“Families often choose Seton Hall with the expectation that students will not be subjected to left-wing ideological pressure,” the statement read.
Vaughn said the decision was not driven by ideology.
“We uphold the free exchange of ideas as part of the university’s Catholic mission,” he said. “This wasn’t a politically motivated decision. It was a decision made in accordance with the rubric.”
TPUSA also claimed that SGA held a closed session to prevent its members from attending the meeting.
“TPUSA’s student president was removed from the room despite SGA bylaws not permitting a closed session for that purpose,” the statement read.
Vaughn denied the allegation, citing SGA bylaw 206.21, which permits the Senate to enter closed session to handle internal matters with a majority vote. He said the Senate moved into closed session after the public forum and before the TPUSA president entered the room.
“In no circumstance would she have been denied the right to participate in the public forum,” Vaughn said. “Turning Point USA members were not prevented from attending the meeting.”
Since SGA does not currently have an appeals process, TPUSA’s next opportunity to seek recognition will be in fall 2026. In the meantime, Vaughn said TPUSA can still meet informally and participate in campus life, as long as activities are in accordance with University guidelines.
“SGA recognition is not required for students to engage with one another,” Vaughn said.
However, recognized student organizations receive privileges such as access to University-allocated funds and campus venues, permission to recruit on campus and use of 25Live for programming and space reservations.
Despite online backlash following TPUSA’s public statement, Vaughn said the SHU chapter’s executive board has been willing to work with SGA and administrators. TPUSA’s president denied the request for comment.
“There was going to be backlash either way,” he said. “All SGA can do is uphold our process, the process we apply to every club. And all I can do as president is stand by the decision the Senate made.”
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
