The Turning Point USA student group has returned to New Mexico State University. On Oct. 9, the organization hosted a tabling event along I-Mall where they were working to recruit like-minded students and grow the organization.

According to the Turning Point USA website, the non-profit organization was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk.  

“Our club here at NMSU is to promote free speech, free markets, and small government,” president of the club, Ryan Anderson, said.  

Anderson said the club is registered under the larger Turning Point USA organization but is still separate from them. Anderson said this group still carries similar values, goals, and morals despite the separation.  

The larger organization is aimed toward training young people to carry out its patriotic missions, while the NMSU club is focused primarily on community and conversation between students. Anderson said the separation is to avoid potentially harming the larger Turning Point USA reputation and having more club freedom. 

In the future, Anderson would like to reach out to guest speakers for upcoming club events. Anderson mentioned his interest in having radio personality, Dave Ramsey, speak to students and give financial advice. He also expressed wanting to have other people visit and facilitate debates on campus, similar to the debates Kirk used to hold on college campuses.  

“As far as a club, we might do barbeques, speed dating, things like that, just so we can get people like-minded together,” Anderson said.  

Once the group receives approval from NMSU, Anderson said the group would like to hold bi-weekly meetings.  

People who are interested in joining the organization can find their tabling events listed under the political and religious/spiritual categories on Crimson Connection.  

“To me, faith comes first, and that’s how I make my decisions on a political level,” Anderson said. “So, in Turning Point, what Charlie Kirk created, that’s what his theory was too, that his faith should impact everything about his political level.” 

Anderson said they had been trying to get the club more active before the passing of Charlie Kirk, but that they have seen a greater influx of interested students since.  

Ketch Bays, a member of the organization, said the club gives his political and social perspective a voice on campus.

Turning Point USA at NMSU will be hosting meetings in Gerald Thomas Hall. Upcoming meetings can be found on Crimson Connection.