Students call for action against right-wing club after private chats are leaked

Momiji Barlow, news editor Apr 28, 2021

Screenshots from a right-wing club’s group chat were recently leaked and circulated online, sparking public outcry among Virginia Tech students and resulting in a statement being issued by the university.

The club is a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a “501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote freedom,” according to its website.

“This week, screenshots from a Virginia Tech student group’s private chat were made public on social media and the Dean of Students has responded with an outline for a path forward,” the university’s message on April 2 stated. “The content of the private messages was deeply antithetical to our values and — candidly — homophobic, racist, ableist, and misogynistic.”

The statement was signed off by President Tim Sands and the Executive Vice President and Provost of the university, among other university officials. The day before, an initial statement had been released, but many students expressed a mixed response.

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