Turning Point USA at Samford University

Guest Opinion by Lila Zadan

Precisely one year out from the Presidential election, the five founding members of Samford University’s Turning Point USA chapter shook hands near the singular grand magnolia tree that looms adjacent to Reid Chapel. We were meeting in hopes to fortify the presence of an on-campus club that was stagnant at the time: Turning Point USA. Surrounding the magnolia on the archaic grass quad was our photographer, hired to shoot some semi-LinkedIn-ready photos of the Executive team. We had anticipated that some professionalism on the exterior of this embryonic organization might render the actual essence of the club. The point of contention at this time remained: Samford’s predominantly conservative student body did not need another politically based organization. What we zealously hoped to introduce were more organic, free-thinking conversations that would foster critical thinking for students on both sides of the political aisle.

Over the course of a full year, between myself and the other founder, Sophi, we emailed over one hundred and thirty Samford employees to find one distinguished and willing professor who might offer their mentorship and guidance with the chapter. Throughout the year, we did not throw in the towel once, and led with around the clock networking. We received an exuberant “yes” from a long-standing professor in the Divinity College of Samford, Dr. DeVine, who has aided our efforts in abundance from the very get-go.

The next two years on campus consisted of recreational tabling on Ben Brown and a handful of formal but amiable speaking events. In November of 2024, we hosted our first speaker, Jaden Heard, a dear friend of mine, who was working full-time in politics. His talk was hosted in the Brock Forum on campus, where twenty-five students showed up. A few months later, the team put together a Pastor’s Roundtable event with a turnout of forty students or so.

With each growing event and tabling on campus peppered here and there on Ben Brown, student engagement proliferated.

A week before Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a few Turning Point members and I sat on Samford University’s memorable Ben Brown Plaza and received another thirty members through conversation. Over the course of two years, we had reached seventy-five members.

Within the first three weeks following Mr. Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA at Samford University surged in Membership and student engagement to 300 members, making Samford’s Turning Point USA chapter, the fastest growing club and organization on campus thus far. Since then, our Executive Team has remained resilient in striving to uphold Charlie's legacy and continue his mission. Moreover, on the evening of October 2nd, Turning Point hosted Brilyn Hollyhand in Brooks Hall, where students, parents, local politicians, accompanied by security and Brilyn's immediate family, attended to hear Mr. Hollyhand's wisdom and insight on Conservative Christian values. Although success from events like this are momentous, piquing student interest does not switch on the moment a student walks into the auditorium, of course. Turning Point’s campus outreach has constituted its efficacy and purpose in starting organic conversations at the gym, the Caf, and before the start of class. It has also revealed itself with the hundreds of flyers pinned and plastered on hallway walls, and situated amid the pine straw under Samford’s beloved magnolia tree.

Lila Zadan is an English Literature student at Samford University from Pittsburgh, PA, and serve as President of Turning Point USA at Samford.

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