The Turning Point USA chapter at Texas A&M University-San Antonio has quickly grown within the last couple of months of the fall 2025 semester. As they welcome and offer open political conversation for students to collaborate as well as express their views and opinions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Communications major Alanna Stewart, the chapter\u2019s president at A&M-San Antonio, said she first became interested with Turning Point USA after attending a Young Women\u2019s Leadership Summit featuring speakers like Candace Owens. \u201cThat event specifically was a lot less political-based and more focused on health and wellness,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cIt really sparked my interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
TPUSA unofficially began its tenure as an interest group on campus in the fall semester.\u00a0 Membership for TPUSA has grown with recent national news of the shooting of its co-founder Charlie Kirk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stewart described this event as a tragic, \u201cwake up call.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really motivates us to carry on the mission and make sure we have a strong foundation,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cThere is safety in numbers, and it\u2019s important for people to feel they can speak freely.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know conservatives are the majority,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cWe won the popular vote, and yet there still is this feeling that you can\u2019t speak like this, or you can\u2019t do this because your professors and classmates are going to target you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chapter\u2019s student officers also include Vice President Tristan Bentley, Secretary Caroline Payne and Social Media Assistant Makayla Breiten. TPUSA A&M-San Antonio has grown to 49 students.<\/p>\n
Stewart said that the chapter emphasizes free speech and that the interest group is open to students of all backgrounds. \u201cLiterally everybody is welcome,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cOur main mission is to educate young people to be informed voters and to create a safe platform for discussion,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you disagree, that\u2019s okay, but you should know the other side. We\u2019re promoting freedom of speech and encouraging students to engage with different beliefs,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n
TPUSA\u2019s A&M-San Antonio chapter collaborates with other local TPUSA campus chapters, including Northwest Vista, San Antonio College and the University of Texas at San Antonio.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A&M-San Antonio\u2019s TPUSA chapter is active through their Instagram social media account. @tpusa_tamusa<\/a> is used to keep members and other interested individuals informed, and they are also able to be found on their JagSync<\/a> page.<\/p>\n Stewart said they try to keep their social media posts or any interest group announcements purposely vague to avoid attracting any potential harm. \u201cWe anticipate people not being thrilled when we\u2019re tabling,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n Dan Braaten, president of A&M-San Antonio\u2019s AAUP chapter, said student political interest groups play an important role on campus. \u201cI\u2019m a supporter of all student groups\u2026 they can have a positive impact in getting students engaged in political issues,\u201d Braaten said.<\/p>\n However, student political activity doesn\u2019t always bode well and can potentially at times create division and tension amongst students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n