BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (Michigan News Source) – The Turning Point USA chapter president at a Christian college in Illinois received death threats in the week leading up to final exams.
Olivet Nazarene University (ONU), which is funded in part by more than 700 Nazarene congregations in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, confirmed the threat to Michigan News Source.
MORE NEWS: Mass Timber Takes Root in Traveling Detroit Exhibit
“A university student received a digital, anonymous threat via social media,” said ONU Public Information Officer Susan Wolff. The student was not on campus when the message was received. There is no evidence that the threatening message was sent from a university student.”
The investigation continues.
According to Wolff, Bourbonnais police and law enforcement where the student lives are involved in the investigation and ONU is cooperating.
Michigan News Source reached out to the student but did not hear back by press time. However, he did speak with Todd Starnes on Newsmax. The student said it took a moment for him to process the threatening message, which named his dorm. Fox News Digital posted the message, which said “I’m gonna find you in Chapman [Hall] and slit your throat in your sleep if you keep posting racist s*** like that please post your God and Charlie Kirk one more time [sic.]”
The threatened student chose to finish the semester at home and ONU’s public safety department did alert the campus.
“When you have a situation like that you realize that the words you say carry a lot of weight but you’re persecuted for a good cause. That cause is to spread truth in a world that really needs it,” the student told Starnes.
Turning Point USA not formally recognized on campus.
However, ONU has not formally recognized a Turning Point USA Chapter on campus. ONU President Dr. Gregg Chenoweth addressed this in a note to some board members and interested alumni:
MORE NEWS: Bulldogs Bite Again: Ferris State Caps Dynasty With Fourth D2 Crown
“There have been several inquiries about why Olivet has not formally recognized a Turning Point USA Chapter on campus, even while we permit students associated with that organization to informally meet on campus and acknowledge their right to operate as a Chapter off campus.
No matter its form, we hope to continue to coordinate with students from common interests. However, to ‘recognize’ is to fund a Chapter with University resources, permit that group to bring speakers to campus, reserve spaces, and host events.
The University is fulfilling a decades-long practice not to fund or promote activities or Clubs associated with a political party. TPUSA describes itself as non-partisan and often represents moral interests that align with Olivet (e.g. pro-life, heterosexual marriage, religious liberty), but as recent as this week at America Fest they also call members to activism which will sustain a majority Republican House and Republican President.
For many years, we have encouraged students to discuss or debate public policy through our Center for Law & Culture, the Law & Politics Society, and Capitol Hill Gang, none of which organize students for activism in service to a political party.
This decision in no way seeks to diminish the Christian witness of Charlie Kirk specifically, nor the Christian motivations of TPUSA members, including our students.
A Christian university may be prophetic (exalting a nation toward righteousness), while not political. Our allegiance is first to Christ, even if some of His concerns can be advocated and codified in public policy. We want the University to provide a hopeful alternative to political acrimony, reflecting Christ in holiness to redeem and restore unjust things.
As a people of faith, in this season of Advent, we continue to pray for our university and seek the Lord’s guidance in all we do. We ask those who share this belief to join with us.”
“A battle worth fighting.”
Michigan News Source reached out to the Bourbonnais Police Department for comment on the status of the case but did not hear back by press time.
In the meantime, the Turning Point USA president at ONU said he won’t let this threat stop him.
“I’m very conservative and I am an absolute lover of America but I also stand for the truth of the gospel and the truth of Jesus Christ and that is a battle worth fighting,” he said.
