The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has overruled its student government and approved a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter as a Registered Student Organization, in accordance with university policy and law, as announced by Vice Chancellor Jay Blackman.
The decision came in the wake of Kirk’s tragic assassination on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. In reaction to the decision by the student government, trial lawyer Robert Barnes, a UTC alum, threatened legal action, citing false “hate speech” claims, urging the school to “fix it now.
In any case, Jay Blackman, Vice Chancellor of Communications and Marketing at UTC, issued a clarifying statement. “As part of the process of becoming a Registered Student Organization at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Dean of Students’ Office has completed its review of a group of students’ application to establish a chapter of Turning Point USA on campus,” the administrator noted.
Building on this point, he stated, “The Dean of Students’ Office has determined that Turning Point USA is approved as a Registered Student Organization. While the Student Government Association may voice opinions, recognition of student organizations is determined by the UTC Dean of Students and Chancellor. Turning Point USA has been authorized in accordance with university policy and the law.”
In any case, courageous attorney Robert Barnes was involved in fighting for justice on this issue. “My hometown school — @UTChattanooga — apparently told students they cannot form a campus chapter of @TPUSAdue to false claims of ‘hate speech,’” he began.
Adding a credible threat, he said, “If this is not reversed immediately, I will sue the school for the students, and win. And UTC will pay the bill. Fix it now!”Barnes did not have to wait long, and soon he returned to social media to say. “Many thanks to all those who spoke out & special thanks to AAG Dhillon, who publicly voiced support for us. That was the gamechanger.”
Bizarrely, nought, this is not the only Kirk-related toy to come out of Chattanooga. As we reported, DEF News 12 production manager Chris Hull sparked outrage by posting on Facebook praising Charlie Kirk’s assassin as a “marksman” who hit the “left carotid artery” at 200 yards, resulting in his ultimate termination.
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In a shocking display of poor taste, Hull took to Facebook to post, “If you don’t have something nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. So, about Charlie Kirk…man, what a marksman! 200 yards away, directly in the left carotid artery…impressive.”
Almost immediately, conservatives were enraged, prompting his place of work to issue a statement which read, “We are aware of recent comments made by one of our employees on social media. The post was made under a personal account, not a station account. Upper management has been notified and is handling the situation internally.”
However, after mounting pressure, they were forced to capitulate, saying, “We are aware of a recent social media post made by one of our employees that appeared to celebrate the tragic act of violence against Charlie Kirk…he is no longer employed with WDEF-TV News 12.”