William & Mary college students launch Turning Level USA chapter amid peer backlash

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College students on the College of William & Mary , the second-oldest college in america, are launching a Turning Point USA chapter regardless of social media backlash and pushback from friends.

Olivia Keller, a sophomore at William and Mary, informed Fox Information Digital in an interview Wednesday that the college administration has been supportive, however her friends haven’t been.

Many of the resistance has been on social media app YikYak, as a result of she thinks college students are extra comfy attacking the membership behind a display fairly than face-to-face.

STUDENTS LAUNCH CONSERVATIVE GROUP AFTER TEACHER CALLED CHARLIE KIRK 'GARBAGE' AFTER HIS ASSASSINATION

Grace Keller, second from proper, with William and Mary TPUSA members. (Picture courtesy: Kevin Lincoln)

"There was lots of dialogue on that platform amongst college students," Keller stated. "So they have been fairly against our efforts with this new membership. They've made feedback concerning the exec members on the membership, they've made enjoyable of it when Charlie Kirk was assassinated. They had been saying, ‘Oh, we've not heard a racist remark shortly that is superior.’ So it is just a few actually, actually inappropriate stuff on there. However in individual I have not actually had any sort of interplay that was as unhealthy as on-line, as I imply it is face-to-face versus on-line, so like they're undoubtedly extra scared to say one thing in individual."

The 20-year-old scholar informed Fox Information Digital that she reached out to campus safety after studying that different college students deliberate to protest the group’s Oct. 20 informational meeting .

"When that was dropped at my consideration, I had by no means handled a protest earlier than. I wasn't positive how massive it was going to be, how many individuals would really present up, or how disruptive they'd be," Keller stated. "So I did really feel the necessity to get safety exterior of our assembly. And the school and workers had been very easy to speak with to get these safety guards exterior."

Keller, who's a advertising and marketing main, stated she has observed a drastic lower in her mates following her on social media platforms like Instagram after posting about Kirk’s assassination.

The 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Level USA was assassinated on Sept. 10 whereas talking at Utah Valley College throughout his "American Comeback Tour."

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An attendee holds up an indication studying "By no means Give up" forward of the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. (Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures)

Keller claimed that about 200 mates on Instagram unfollowed her after she posted a "relaxation in peace" tribute to Kirk after his assassination, and that extra unfollowed her Monday when she shared a submit for Veterans Day.

Keller stated she thinks conservative students are inclined to face a more durable surroundings on campus versus their liberal friends.

"Even the College Republicans , they face lots of backlash, they usually're fairly loud about their beliefs," Keller stated. "When Trump was elected the earlier yr, they had been carrying the MAGA hats and stuff, and they also had been commented on rather a lot, like there have been lots of disagreements."

CONSERVATIVE STUDENT EXPOSES MIDWESTERN COLLEGE FOR PREVENTING TURNING POINT USA CHAPTER

Charlie Kirk speaks earlier than he's assassinated throughout Turning Level's go to to Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret Information through AP)

Keller stated she had been a " closeted conservative " however determined to talk up regardless of the dangers.

"Me personally, I have been extra of what I'd say, a closeted conservative on campus till this yr, simply because I really feel like if I had been to talk up, I'd simply be, attacked or, like, mainly condemned," Keller stated.

Her recommendation to college students discovering themselves in an identical place who wish to begin a conservative membership in a left-leaning establishment is to be "daring."

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Keller's recommendation to college students discovering themselves in an identical place, who wish to begin a conservative membership in a left-leaning establishment is to be "daring." (Godofredo Vásquez/AP)

"In at this time's world, I feel it is actually necessary to be daring about these beliefs," Keller stated. "And even when your friends disagree with you, in the long term, you are gonna discover your personal group with individuals who have related values and people are gonna be the extra necessary relationships."