We, the students, alumni, parents, and community members of District 230, are calling for immediate action regarding the newly approved Turning Point USA (TPUSA) club at Carl Sandburg High School. Since its introduction, this club has caused significant division, hostility, and discomfort within the school community. A recent public post connected to the club received nearly 2,000 comments, with students, alumni, and parents arguing, exchanging racially charged remarks, and expressing fear about how this organization will affect the school environment.

This demonstrates that a partisan political club, especially one tied to a highly controversial national organization, is inappropriate and unsafe in a public high school. Our district is legally and morally responsible for ensuring a climate where every student feels safe, respected, included, and protected. This club has already proven to do the opposite.

 
District Values & Why This Club Conflicts with Them
District 230 emphasizes innovation, empathy, and leadership as its core values. However, the presence of the TPUSA club does not uphold these commitments:

• Innovation means creating safe environments where every student can grow academically and emotionally, without fear of discrimination or hostility.
• Empathy requires compassion, sensitivity, and protecting students’ emotional well-being—especially when tensions are already high.
• Leadership means making decisions that foster unity, not division, and ensuring all students feel valued.
  The backlash, the racially divisive arguments, and the widespread discomfort caused by this club show clearly that its presence does not align with the district’s mission or values. A school that prides itself on empathy and leadership cannot support an organization that has already triggered such hostility and fear among its students.

 
Impact on Students at Sandburg:
Carl Sandburg High School should be a place where every student feels safe, respected, and welcomed. Instead, the Turning Point USA club has created growing tension, anxiety, and division.

Many students, especially students of color, who make up a large portion of Sandburg’s population, have expressed that TPUSA’s national reputation makes them feel unsafe, targeted, or singled out. This is not a small matter; it affects the emotional and psychological well-being of minors in a public-school setting.

This Is a National Issue — Not Just Local. This concern is part of a broader national pattern:

Across the United States, Turning Point USA has repeatedly caused controversy, protests, and safety concerns when introduced into school environments. The concerns raised at Sandburg match a broader documented pattern:

• Multiple school districts have experienced student-led protests, walkouts, and campus division immediately after TPUSA chapters formed.
  • Example: At Royal Oak High School (MI), more than 270 students walked out after a TPUSA club was approved, citing fear, division, and school-climate concerns.
• A 2022 UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access study found that over 40% of high schools surveyed experienced climate disruptions involving national political groups, and TPUSA was specifically named as one of the organizations most associated with school-based conflict. 
• The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) published a detailed case study identifying TPUSA as having “a national track record of harassment, misinformation, and intimidation,” especially in educational spaces.
• Several universities and student governments have rejected TPUSA chapters due to the organization’s controversial rhetoric and negative impact on campus climate (e.g., California Lutheran University).
• There have been multiple confirmed incidents of TPUSA chapter leaders or affiliates being involved in racist, extremist, or white-nationalist-related controversies, including viral videos and speaker invitations.
• High school students are minors, and at Sandburg, over 70% of students cannot vote, meaning they are especially vulnerable to the adult-level political conflict, targeting, and polarization TPUSA is known to generate.

Students come to school to learn, feel supported, and build friendships—not to navigate polarization, harassment, or identity-based hostility.

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What This Petition Is Asking For...
This petition is not about silencing students. It is about protecting their emotional, mental, and physical safety.

We respectfully request the following actions:

• A full district review of the TPUSA club’s approval process and compliance with all school policies.
• Temporary suspension of the club while the district investigates.
• Clear guidelines stating that clubs must remain nonpartisan, inclusive, and free of divisive national political affiliations.
• Replacement with a civic or debate-oriented club that encourages open dialogue and multiple perspectives—not one-sided political influence.
• Emotional support resources for students who feel unsafe or impacted by recent conflicts.
• New safety protocols to prevent harassment, intimidation, or potential violence connected to the political tension this club has created.
• Proactive monitoring to prevent future harm to the school climate                                                                                                                           

Ensuring Student Wellness & Safety. We also request that the school and district take all necessary steps to prioritize student wellness during this process. This includes providing:
- Mental health support
- Counseling services
- Staff monitoring of potential harassment or bullying
- Proactive measures to prevent future hostility on campus
No student should feel unsafe, targeted, or judged because of a club tied to controversial national politics.

Why We Must Act Now
- Sandburg is a diverse community.
- A welcoming community.
- A school built on unity and respect.

Allowing a national political organization with a documented history of school-based disruption and division undermines everything our school stands for.

We urge school leadership and District 230 to protect students, uphold district values, and restore a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

Sign this petition to demand immediate action from Carl Sandburg High School and District 230.
Together, we can keep our school safe, supportive, and united.

***Surely all donations made help support Change.Org, but they do not directly support our campaign against this club. Donations are welcome, but please consider donating to other organizations who will support students and civiallians struggling around the world if possible. We are not requesting donations, instead please share this petition.***