LTHS Conservative Group Harassed: Student Leader

LA GRANGE, IL — The leader of a conservative student group at Lyons Township High School said Monday that its members have been regularly harassed.

At a school board meeting, Leslie Mendoza, president of the school's Turning Point USA chapter, spoke out against the school's rejection of her group as an official club.

In January, the group's executive team began its process of gaining official recognition, she said. Six months later, the school told the Turning Point chapter that its stipend committee rejected its request.

As soon as word got out about the group's application in January, Mendoza said, it received "immediate backlash" from classmates and the community. Opponents demanded the school reject the application. A Change.org petition, she said, drew 600 signatures within three months.

"Many of the students who signed this petition, even the creators, were later found sending heinous messages to our conservative team leaders," the incoming senior said. "We find it ironic to hear comments telling us that there is no point in being alive if we're going to dedicate ourselves to stupid causes — from the same students who preach tolerance and acceptance for all. Members of our team are targeted daily, threatened and verbally attacked because they are openly conservative."

She disputed the school's reasoning for turning down the application. In its denial, the school said it did not approve partisan organizations. Mendoza said several clubs were partisan, but she did not identify them.

"We quickly questioned the reasoning and immediately made it clear that there had been a major mistake," Mendoza said. "The only reason the stipend committee had denied our proposal was invalid. You'd think a simple mistake like this would be avoided after six months of having our proposal. Turning Point USA is, by definition, nonpartisan due to the fact that it focuses on ideas and not a certain party. We legally have to be nonpartisan, considering the fact that we're a 501(c)(3)."

Mendoza said the group was then told it was not allowed because it was a 501(c)(3), a tax federal tax designation. But she pointed to a number of student clubs that are also such nonprofits.

Patch has been unable to find documentation in which the school used Turning Point's nonprofit status as a reason. A school spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.

At the board meeting, Mendoza enjoyed a supportive audience, which cheered her and commented on her statements with expressions such as "Wow!"

"Why is it as soon as people speak up and express a difference in opinion, they're immediately shut down? What happened to inclusivity and acceptance?" she said. "There used to be a time when you could say you were proud of having the privilege of being an American without being called a white supremacist. Parents, we thank you all for standing with us. We hope you will continue to stand with us. No one fights alone. We won't let you guys down."

The audience erupted in applause.