Students at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox who applied to form a Club America, the high school affiliate of Turning Point USA, had their application approved Tuesday by the Student Council.
The club’s application generated some controversy when supporters, including Will County Republican Party Chair Christina Clausen, accused the school of treating the students unfairly and subjecting them to overly stringent requirements.
Lincoln-Way High School District 210 has said the process for club formation was the same for Club America as it is for every other club, requiring student signatures and a staff sponsor.
Turning Point USA became a political lightning rod across the country after its founder, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was assassinated in September. Teachers across Illinois were subjected to intense backlash for personal social media statements made following Kirk’s death, including one in Oak Forest.
elewis@chicagotribune.com
