The Associated Students of Whitworth University (ASWU) meeting on Feb. 26 consisted of various presentations from clubs about their events, and votes were conducted to approve speakers requested by the clubs. The math, astrology, and business clubs each discussed their campus events and the use of their delegated funds, but one club in particular received a lot of attention regarding their proposal for speakers to come on campus.
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) began on the Whitworth campus back in November 2022 as a space for conservative students to connect and discuss issues. Since then, ASWU has resisted select speakers coming onto campus like Xi Van Fleet and Brandon Tatum, in consideration for their constituents.
Bree Pollack, the president of TPUSA at Whitworth, presented two speakers to come on campus during an ASWU meeting on Feb. 19 and the vote to approve the speakers took place last Wednesday, Feb. 26. Stephen Davis and Olivia Krolczyk were chosen by the larger organization of TPUSA to speak at Whitworth.
The request for speakers to come received opposition from Bennett Johnson, a sophomore psychology major, who presented a slideshow discussing the negative impact the speakers would have if approved to come.
Tweets made by the TPUSA speakers were brought to attention. A tweet made by Stephen Davis about the Black Lives Matter Movement described it as a substitute for Black supremacy and Marxism.
Olivia Krolczyk tweeted her opinion about various controversial topics like DEI, feminism and abortion. One tweet showing a photo of Krolczyk shooting a gun captioned “just out here hunting for liberals” received a lot of attention from the room.
Johnson argued the statements made in both speaker’s tweets were hateful and posed a threat to student safety if they were allowed to speak on campus.
Johnson also included the incidences of violence that took place at each of these speakers’ events. ASWU considers the safety of the Whitworth campus when allowing speakers to speak on campus. A violent occasion between protesters and counter-protesters occurred at a TPUSA event featuring Stephen Davis. At Olivia Krolczyk’s event at the University of Washington, protestors rallied around the building and danced in protest of Olivia’s transphobic content.
In defense of Davis, Pollack said, “He has his own experience and wants to share with others what he has experienced.” Pollack assured the room, “there will be no violence at these events,” and knocks of approval arose from some of those seated in the ASWU chambers.
Pollack placed emphasis on the importance of making students feel heard by bringing in these speakers. “[the students of TPUSA] want our voices to be heard. I ask that in the name of civil discourse you approve these speakers to come.”
The conversation between ASWU representatives and Pollack continued. “I empathize with TPUSA wanting to be heard,” said Eli Roberts, the Boppel Hall Senator. “We want students to be heard, but it’s whether those actions bring about more good than bad.”
The topic of the legitimacy of Academia also arose, begging questions about the speaker’s educational background and qualifications to speak about topics such as Critical Race Theory and Title IX.
Pollack emphasized the value of the speaker’s life experience, which would educate just as much as a scholarly source. Sam York, the secretary of TPUSA at Whitworth, expressed to ASWU that it was important for students to hear other opinions. In a poll taken by Abi Prather, the off-campus senator, to gather information about students’ approval for these speakers, the results of the poll showed that about two-thirds of off-campus students were in favor of the speakers coming on campus.
Two main concerns arose from these discussions: the concern for student safety and the importance of welcoming differing opinions on campus. “Who is empowered [by these events], and who is at [the] expense of this empowerment,” asked Sophie St. Jacques, the cultural events coordinator for ASWU.
The final voting results for Stephen Davis were 13 in favor, two opposed and none abstaining.
The final results for Olivia Krolczyk were 13 opposed, two in favor and none abstaining.
* Disclaimer: Abi Prather is a design editor for The Whitworthian. Prather was not involved and had no influence in the writing or editing process of this article.
