TPUSA at Michigan Tech is planning on holding an event from speaker Brandon Tatum in March. In order to hold the event, they say they need thousands of dollars. Even though they said they are able to obtain said money from their national organization and local businesses, they are requesting $3,500.00 from the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) to hold the event [1]. This money from the Opportunity Fund can be used by other organizations for much more important, and impactful opportunities. The Opportunity Fund should be for things unforseen at the start of the budgetary process, such as broken equipment or new organizations, not to help cover the bill of a large, national organization hosting a speaker. This money should be used to help other organizations on campus that do not have the same national funding as TPUSA. 

TPUSA and its leaders have a history of spreading hate, disinformation, and dubious rhetoric at college campuses across the country. Some things said by TPUSA founder, Charlie Kirk, include: "There's a direct connection to inflation and the trans issue" [2], "When scientists are looking into global warming, there was no factual data to back up their argument. Real scientists are still debating whether CO2 or solar sunspots or natural variability cause global warming" [3], "The NFL is now the league of sexual anarchy. This halftime show should not be allowed on television" [4], The "biblical model" for women to pursue in romantic relationships is a partner who is "a protector and a leader, and deep down, a vast majority of you agree" [5], and "Vaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID" [6].

This speaker, Brandon Tatum, has also made some questionable remarks over the years, including: "We need to stop promoting it [homosexuality/transgenderism] as being normal" [7], "Masks don't work" [8], and "...the country [USA] isn’t as racist as I thought it was" [9]. These remarks have been used to spread hateful and deadly rhetoric across the world. The murder of non-binary and transgender people, including children, are becoming a regular occurrence [10], COVID-19 has already killed millions [11], and racism is still very much alive and present all across the country, resulting in even more hate crimes [12].

These kinds of claims are rooted in disproven lies. Tell USG that we do NOT want this kind of rhetoric supported on MTU's campus by the Undergraduate Student Government, and that they should NOT fund one of their events. They vote for this funding THIS WEDNESDAY, 2/15. By signing this petition, you are telling USG to NOT fund TPUSA's event.

[1] https://drive.google.com/file/d/19hpoBcP9cyJDHPg7zm4ku7RSvYxCsabr/view?usp=sharing

[2] https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-blames-trans-people-inflation-theres-direct-connection-inflation-and

[3] https://climatefeedback.org/claimreview/in-viral-turning-point-usa-video-candace-owens-and-charlie-kirk-falsely-claim-there-is-no-evidence-of-global-warming-and-scientists-dont-know-the-cause/

[4] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/charlie-kirk-super-bowl-halftime-show-sexual-anarchy-1299730/

[5] https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/turning-point-usa-conference-young-women-leaders-suggests-their-role-get-married-and

[6] https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/covid-19-vaccines-reduce-risk-death-covid-19-dont-alter-dna-charlie-kirk-alex-berenson/

[7] https://twitter.com/TheOfficerTatum/status/1072538481845526529

[8] https://twitter.com/theofficertatum/status/1312459196873416704

[9] https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/08/03/black-ex-liberal-former-cop-woke-up-to-reality-america-isnt-so-racist-after-all/

[10] https://www.hrc.org/resources/fatal-violence-against-the-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2022

[11] https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

[12] https://www.voanews.com/a/us-hate-crimes-rise-during-first-half-of-2022-/6713791.html