Ole Miss TPUSA Hosts ‘Campus Clash’ Event with Charlie Kirk

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

Turning Point USA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded on June 5, 2012 by Charlie Kirk. Photo via Ole Miss TPUSA Facebook.

The Ole Miss chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is set to host Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of TPUSA, and the organization’s 2019 tour—Campus Clash—April 4 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Oxford Conference Center at 102 Ed Perry Boulevard.

The organization’s mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government, its website states.

Kirk, 24, will tackle several issues such as big government, culture and the left wing party as part of the Campus Clash Tour, according to the event page.

The TPUSA organization was created in June 2012 and has spread across the country, establishing its roots in more than 1,200 high school and college campuses. Kirk has appeared on Fox News, CNBC and FOX Business News more than 600 times.

Lucas Edmondson, campus coordinator and vice president of Ole Miss TPUSA, said Kirk is a well known conservative speaker and hopes the event will bring more participation to the local organization.

“We hope people walk away with a better understanding of what it means to be a fiscal conservative and the importance of TPUSA on the Ole Miss campus,” he said.

Edmondson said he also hopes those who attend the event leave with more interest in the topics discussed and conduct their own research to, in turn, draw their own conclusions.

Kirk, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, is a hardworking and extremely intelligent young man, Edmondson said.

“Some people perceive him as a polarizing figure, but in reality he is sparking debates on topics that need to be talked about,” he said.

The Ole Miss TPUSA’s overall goal is to give fiscal conservative students a group where like-minded individuals can gather and have the opportunity to hear from speakers who share similar ideology, according to Edmondson.

The organization also provides a direct outlet for students to ask questions regarding TPUSA who might not understand exactly what the organization is or stands for, he said.

One of the organization’s goals is to influence American citizens to take more control of the government, according to Edmondson. Ole Miss TPUSA hopes to help those interested better understand the problems with increasing government control and socialism, among other things.

Ole Miss TPUSA is one of several political organizations on campus, including the College Republicans and UM College Democrats.

Edmondson said it is important for a variety of political beliefs to be represented on all college campuses.

“Left or right, all views and opinions should be expressed,” he said. “This brings a better balance to political debates and discussions.”

Student and adult tickets are free. VIP tickets are $50 plus tax. For more information on the Campus Clash event, visit the ticket website here.