Lehigh University: Student Senate Blocks Turning Point USA Recognition

On March 3, 2026, Lehigh University’s Student Senate voted against granting a Turning Point USA chapter the required six-week trial period for recognition. The student senate cancelled a revote slated for April 9, leaving the group unable to seek recognition until at least fall 2026. Various circumstances suggest the decision was based on the group’s viewpoint, including a student senator liking an Instagram comment characterizing the vote as “standing up against bigotry.” On April 24, FIRE wrote to the university and student senate, emphasizing that Lehigh’s commitment to free expression requires the student senate to use viewpoint-neutral criteria for student organization recognition.