Tensions are rising between Eastern University and a national organization as the fight for their name begins. Founded in 1975, Turning Point is a choir on campus that performs at different schools and locations. Meanwhile, Turning Point USA is a national faith-based conservative movement founded by Charlie Kirk. They are extremely influential, and this is why a large legal dispute has erupted in the United States. The beginning of this dispute began with a large misunderstanding.
Early in the fall semester, an official chapter of the national Turning Point USA organization was formed as an unofficial club on campus. As the movement gained recognition on campus, people eagerly awaited more information regarding joining the club. Due to its popularity throughout the nation, many awaited their chance to advocate their thoughts about politics, religion and more. At the beginning of the spring semester, the amount of students attempted to join the choir surged, doubling the number of members involved. Members reported confusion and agitation from new members upon finding out Turning Point was a choir, and not the chapter of the national organization.
These new students, who will remain anonymous for legal reasons, were extremely upset and confused when they were asked to sing before Reverend Perry Brisbon and other influential people involved in the choir. “I was really surprised when I was asked to sing. I had been practicing my debate skills in the mirror, so I tried to sing some of my talking points. Rev. Brisbon was really confused and asked me which Turning Point song I was singing, and that’s when I realized I might be in the wrong place,” said an anonymous TPUSA member who tried to join the choir.
These students argued the confusion was unjust and that Turning Point should make their name more choir-centered. “I mean, don’t make your choir name the same as the far more popular Turning Point USA. It’s simple to me,” said a TPUSA member.
But Brisbon disagrees. This was the first time he had heard about the other Turning Point. “I was shocked to find out that such a prominent organization with political sway had hijacked our name,” Brisbon said. “That’s not right to me. Turning Point was a choir years before Charlie Kirk was even born. I decided we needed to do something about this.” Within a newfound passion awakened, Brisbon knew he must act on it.
It did not seem just that Turning Point USA was attempting to gain recognition while the Turning Point choir existed. It is believed that the original founders of TPUSA specifically named their organization this to confuse Eastern University’s campus and gather more students. This means they would refocus the recognition given to the choir on campus and focus it towards conservative social activism.
Additional confusion abounded when several nonpolitical singers in turn tried to join the campus choir, and instead found themselves in the Turning Point USA chapter of Eastern. “I’m going to be honest, it took me a while to figure out,” a student said. “I was wondering when we were going to start singing, but it was all talk about ‘owning the libs.’ I thought the libs were a rival choir at first.”
The first attempted solution involved speaking with the current CEO, Erika Kirk. It is reported that the leaders of Turning Point USA harmonized their goodbye before hanging up the phone. Because of this, Eastern University saw no other solution except to sue for copyright infringement. Because of the obvious injustice happening, the appeal has skipped the legal court system instantly being brought before the Supreme Court. Brisbon feels so strongly about this he is bringing the entire choir to come before the Supreme Court.
This is not just about a name – this truly alludes to the political and economic state of the world right now. “This is a representation of the metaphorical Big Man and Little Man. If the Big Man wins- what will Eastern become?” an unnamed Turning Point choir member says.
The case reached the court in early February, and is ongoing. Tensions are rising on campus. Encrypted messages have been sent to Turning Point USA members, delivered in musical notes. When translated, they say “we were here first.” Turning Point USA has responded by increasing their activism and campaigning on campus. As the case escalates, so does the situation on campus. Who will win the title – those who came first, or a group experiencing exponential growth?
