State politicians, OU athletes, students attend TPUSA event | News

OU athletes and Oklahoma politicians attended the OU Turning Point USA event Thursday evening at the Lloyd Noble Center. 

The event, which occurred as part of the “The Turning Point Tour,” featured Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, reality TV star Savannah Chrisley and English comedian Russell Brand. 

A number of notable community figures attended the event, including OU women’s basketball senior center Raegan Beers and senior guard Payton Verhulst. Beers was named to the preseason all-SEC first team on Monday.

Verhulst said the event is something she has always aligned with belief-wise.

“It’s really important that no matter your status, it’s important to do and go to places where you’re really strong in beliefs,” Verhulst said. “This is an amazing opportunity to do that and meet people.”

Beers said that though the event aligns with what she personally believes in, freedom of speech is also important to her, which she said Turning Point USA promotes.

“It’s important, especially in this day and age, to allow people to talk about what they want to talk about, no matter what side you’re on,” Beers said. “Obviously (the event) aligns a lot with my opinion as well, but having that freedom of speech is really important.”

Verhulst said she was most excited to hear different viewpoints she may have not heard before. Beers said she looked forward to hearing in-person what she has seen on social media, but also forming her own opinions on what was discussed in the event.

“Fostering your own beliefs, and what your opinion is, whether you agree with everything that they say or not, (and) being able to have the opportunity to come and listen to people like that is going to be exciting,” Beers said.

Oklahoma political leaders

A number of Oklahoma representatives were also present in the audience. 

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told OU Daily he was fortunate to be home so he could attend the event. 

“Charlie Kirk was a tremendous guy,” Cole said. “(He) did a tremendous job organizing on campuses and really representing what’s best in America. Let’s go debate the issues, make a decision, partially a tribute to his memory, but also a recognition of the continuing importance of open dialogue in university campuses.”

Aside from Stitt, Cole said he was mostly unfamiliar with the speakers. 

“I know Gov. Stitt very well, so I’m very happy to see him,” Cole said. “The others I don’t know as well, but looking forward to hearing what they have to say.”

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) told OU Daily she was happy to see the enthusiasm young people have for conservative principles. 

“So many college students have felt silenced over the last several years when it comes to their conservative positions, and this is an incredible example of them being able to stand up and speak out,” Bice said. 

Bice said she had never personally met Kirk, but admired him and his efforts to engage in discourse with those he disagreed with. She said his death was a tragedy.

“(Kirk) was democracy in many ways, and to see his voice silenced was tragic, but it’s a blessing to see so many young people standing up and sort of taking a position and being able to speak to those conservative values,” Bice said.

State Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) said he spoke with members of OU Turning Point USA before the event began.

“We’re very excited to support the young people,” Jett said. “Universities are for open dialogue. If the left wants to talk, the right also needs to talk so they come together and discuss what they really want this nation to look like going forward.”

Former State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who visited OU’s campus Thursday morning as part of a Fox News interview, told Daily reporters he would be in attendance at the event. The Daily did not see Walters in the crowd.

OU students, community members

OU education first-year Ava Migliorino told the Daily now that she’s in college, she wanted to learn about and be more involved in politics. 

“In the past, I haven’t been all on political stuff. I haven’t been into it. Since I’m now 18, I’m a freshman in college — I need to definitely educate myself more,” Migliorino said. “Definitely watching the news more, going to that stuff, and I know we had this event here at OU and it’s free.”

Migliorino said she recognizes there are often varying opinions among students on college campuses.

“There’s all different types of people here with different political views,” Migliorino said. “I know people are going to say different things, so just to get a view on everyone’s points and just learn from it.”

Before the event began, Philip Holshouser, a preacher and evangelist in the Oklahoma City metro area, stood outside the venue and preached to protesters organized by the OU College Democrats beginning two hours before the event began.

“I brought my Bible just in case, and when I saw them I was like ‘I gotta go tell them,’” Holshouser said. “There is a God that sent his son to die for the ungodly, because we don’t know, they may get hit in a car wreck and this might be their last few hours on Earth.”

Oklahoma Baptist University cheerleaders Lexi Turner and Avery Rowell said they attended the event because of their love for Kirk. 

“I already know a lot of stuff, but this is a good opportunity for us to learn more,” Rowell said. “I love that we have the chance to be able to be here.”

Caroline Montgomery, a self-described patriot, told OU Daily that she loves the movement and is glad the organization stopped in Oklahoma.

“Come out and support this movement because it’s big,” Montgomery said. “It’s Charlie Kirk and we’re all Charlie.”

OU architecture junior Dylan Kennedy said he was interested in attending because he had seen videos of Kirk online. 

“I watched all of his videos, that kind of thing,” Kennedy said. “Not a huge fan, but he kind of persuaded some of my viewpoints a little bit.”

Background

“The Turning Point Tour” was announced on Sept. 22 to commemorate the organization’s founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. Magana confirmed during the event that Kirk was scheduled to visit OU later in the fall.

Zane Smith, deputy director of communications for OU College Democrats, wrote in a statement to OU Daily Thursday the organization condemns providing Brand a platform on OU’s campus.

Brand is facing one allegation of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault in England, according to the BBC. The alleged incidents involved four women and are said to have taken place in central London and Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005. Brand pleaded not guilty to the charges in May and is set to stand trial next June.

This story was edited by Ana Barboza, Thomas Pablo and Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.