Ryan Walters on the South Oval

Turning Point USA sign on the ground after being cut in half on the South Oval on Oct 16.

 Esther Hodson/OU Daily

OU released a statement Friday on the removal of Turning Point USA signs across campus promoting its Thursday evening event. 

“We are aware of reports involving the removal of signs,” OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. wrote in the statement posted on the social platform X. “OUPD is actively investigating those incidents and anyone found responsible will be held accountable as appropriate.”

During an interview with OU Turning Point USA President Kalib Magana on the South Oval Thursday, a student took down a sign promoting the event and ripped it in half. 

“We just witnessed somebody tear up our sign,” Magana said. “This cannot be happening, this needs to be reported (and) posted. This cannot happen. The OU president needs to make a statement.”

OU’s Turning Point USA chapter has posted multiple videos on its Instagram page showing students taking down or destroying signs promoting the event. 

Former State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who was on campus Thursday morning for a Fox News interview ahead of Thursday’s “The Turning Point Tour” event, shook his head as Magana told him about the student.

“Don’t back down — what you’re doing is making a huge difference,” Walters told Magana. “You guys are on the front lines. You're being attacked by everybody from the radical left, students, (the) media.”

Ryan Walters on the South Oval

Former Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters on the South Oval on Oct. 16.

Magana said the destruction of signs promoting “The Turning Point Tour” and vandalism of signs promoting the Riley Gaines event in the spring has made Turning Point USA members feel unsafe on campus. 

“We don't feel safe on campus as conservatives in the reddest state, keep that in mind. That tells you something,” Magana said. “This is how bad universities have become, and this is why Charlie Kirk said school (and) college is a scam. We're getting scammed.”

Turning Point USA held an event at Lloyd Noble Center as part of “The Turning Point Tour” featuring guest speakers Gov. Kevin Stitt, English comedian Russell Brand and reality TV star Savannah Chrisley on Thursday. 

 The event was announced following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University during his “The American Comeback Tour.”

OU College Democrats protested the event outside of the Lloyd Noble Center as lines of people wrapped around the building waiting to enter the event.

Photos: OU College Democrats organizes protest in response to Turning Point USA event

According to Marley Hutchins, vice president of the College Democrats of Oklahoma, the protest was mainly against Brand’s appearance as a guest speaker at the event. 

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 in June 2026. 

This story was edited by Natalie Armour and Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.

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