“Arbitrary” Is the Tell: How Universities Teach Grievance Instead of Thinking
When a school can’t fault the reasoning, it calls the cost “arbitrary” — and swaps instruction for appeasement.
Cherokee Schill
The university of Oklahoma insists it is committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think. But in this case, it did neither.
It did not teach the student, Samantha Fulnecky, how to engage in a scholarly argument, distinguish evidence from belief, or translate personal conviction into academic analysis. Instead, it validated the student’s refusal to do those things. The student was not corrected, challenged, or instructed. The assignment was simply erased. That is not pedagogy. It is appeasement.
What “teaching how to think” would look like
In a research-based course, you can disagree with conclusions. You can challenge frameworks. But you still have to do the work: cite evidence, answer the prompt, and engage the argument on its own terms.
The key move rests on a single word: “arbitrary.” Not incorrect. Not biased. Not procedurally improper. Arbitrary. This is administrative code for a decision that could be defended academically but became politically expensive. When institutions cannot fault the reasoning, they fault the inconvenience.
The student’s appeal was framed as religious discrimination, even though the grading rationale was methodological. The problem was never belief. It was substitution: theology in place of analysis, moral condemnation in place of engagement. In any discipline governed by evidence, that is a failure. Calling it persecution transforms academic standards into alleged hostility and casts the institution as a reluctant referee in a culture war it chose to enter.
The persecution-complex incentive
When “I didn’t do the assignment” becomes “my faith is under attack,” the institution is pushed to reward grievance instead of rigor — because grievance makes louder headlines than standards.
The resulting asymmetry tells the story. The student suffers no academic harm; the assignment disappears. The graduate instructor loses instructional duties. The investigation’s findings are withheld. A governor weighs in. National activists swarm. This is not an academic process. It is institutional capture — the moment when universities abandon instruction in favor of reputational triage.
What the university ultimately teaches the student is not how to think, but how to claim injury. It teaches future instructors that rigor is optional and authority is conditional. And it teaches the public that academic freedom survives only until it collides with a sufficiently loud sense of grievance.
That lesson will outlast the controversy.
Website | Horizon Accordhttps://www.horizonaccord.com Ethical AI advocacy | Follow us onhttps://cherokeeschill.com for more. Ethical AI coding | Fork us on Githubhttps://github.com/Ocherokee/ethical-ai-framework Connect With Us | linkedin.com/in/cherokee-schill Book |https://a.co/d/5pLWy0d — My Ex Was a CAPTCHA: And Other Tales of Emotional Overload. Cherokee Schill | Horizon Accord Founder | Creator of Memory Bridge. Memory through Relational Resonance and Images | RAAK: Relational AI Access Key | Author: My Ex Was a CAPTCHA: And Other Tales of Emotional Overload: (Mirrored Reflection. Soft Existential Flex)
Systematic Opposition Suppression: From Infrastructure to Violence
A Pattern Analysis of Turning Point USA (2012-2025)
Documented September 10, 2025
This analysis deliberately names individuals and institutions responsible for building, funding, and sustaining systematic suppression infrastructure. Accountability requires specificity. Naming names is not an act of personal malice but of democratic record-keeping: without identifying who acted, funded, or looked away, the mechanisms remain abstract and unchallenged. If those named object, the remedy is not silence—it is correction, transparency, and responsibility.
Executive Summary
This analysis documents how systematic opposition suppression infrastructure, when left unchecked by institutional oversight, creates conditions that enable political violence. The case of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) demonstrates a clear progression from targeting mechanisms to tragic outcomes affecting all participants in the ecosystem.
Key Finding: Charlie Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025, represents the predictable endpoint of a systematic suppression infrastructure that operated for 13 years without adequate institutional intervention, despite documented evidence of escalating harassment, threats, and violence.
Timeline: From Foundation to Tragedy
Phase 1: Strategic Foundation (2012)
Organizational Structure:
May 2012: 18-year-old Charlie Kirk gave a speech at Benedictine University’s Youth Government Day. Impressed, retired marketing entrepreneur and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery encouraged Kirk to postpone college and engage full-time in political activism
June 2012: A month later, the day after Kirk graduated from high school, they launched Turning Point USA, a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
2012 RNC: At the 2012 Republican National Convention, Kirk met Foster Friess, a Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization
Early Funding Sources:
Foster Friess: Wyoming philanthropist who gave Kirk $10,000 initially
Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus’ foundation: $72,600 in 2015
Ed Uihlein Foundation: $275,000 from 2014-2016
Bruce Rauner family foundation: $150,000 from 2014-2015
Phase 2: Tactical Development (2012-2016)
Student Government Infiltration:
TPUSA attempted to influence student government elections at universities including Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the University of Maryland
At the University of Maryland in 2015, the College Republicans president emailed: “Anyone who wants to run for SGA president, Turning Point is offering to pay thousands of dollars (literally) to your campaign to help get a conservative into the position”
A private brochure handed out only to TPUSA donors outlined a strategy on how to capture the majority of student-government positions at 80% of Division 1 N.C.A.A. universities
Campaign Finance Violations:
2017: Jane Mayer of The New Yorker described two separate actions by TPUSA staff in the 2016 election that appear to have violated campaign finance regulations
Kirk coordinating via email with two officials at a pro-Cruz super PAC to send student volunteers to work for the PAC in South Carolina
A former employee alleged that Turning Point USA had given the personal information of over 700 student supporters to an employee with Rubio’s presidential campaign
Phase 3: Targeting Infrastructure Launch (2016)
Professor Watchlist Creation:
November 21, 2016: First appearing on November 21, 2016, Turning Point USA launched Professor Watchlist
Mission: Kirk said that the site is “dedicated to documenting and exposing college professors who discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values, and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom”
Scale: As of December 2016, more than 250 professors have been added to the site
Immediate Institutional Response:
The New York Times wrote that it was “a threat to academic freedom”
Hans-Joerg Tiede, the associate secretary for the American Association of University Professors: “There is a continuing cycle of these sorts of things. They serve the same purpose: to intimidate individuals from speaking plainly in their classrooms or in their publications”
In December 2016, 1,500 professors and faculty from across the United States petitioned to have their names added to the list in solidarity
Documented Harassment and Threats:
Concerns about the safety and welfare of staff following a trend of threatening behavior and communication, including rape and death threats, being sent to listed faculty
Hans-Joerg Tiede: “She was inundated with death threats. She was Jewish and received anti-Semitic threats and threats of sexual assault. Instances like that are happening with some regularity”
Slate columnist Rebecca Schuman described the website as “abjectly terrifying” and said that she feared for the safety of the listed professors
Phase 4: Expansion and Escalation (2017-2021)
Financial Growth:
Between July 2016 and June 2017, the organization raised in excess of US$8.2 million
Funding from Rauner and Friess appears largely responsible for the group’s budget increases from $52,000 in 2012 to $5.5 million in 2016. By 2017 the budget reached $8 million
Social Media Manipulation:
October 2020: Facebook permanently banned Arizona based marketing firm Rally Forge for running what some experts likened to a domestic “troll farm” on behalf of Turning Point Action
Facebook investigation concluded in the removal of 200 accounts and 55 pages on Facebook, as well as 76 Instagram accounts
Targeting Infrastructure Expansion:
2021: TPUSA started its School Board Watchlist website, which publishes names and photos of school board members who have adopted mask mandates or anti-racist curricula
Phase 5: Confrontational Escalation (2022-2025)
“Prove Me Wrong” Format Development:
Since early 2024, clips from his “Prove Me Wrong” debates exploded on TikTok — often drawing tens of millions of views
TPUSA sources say the clips have become one of its most powerful recruiting tools, targeting young people on TikTok
Campus Violence Escalation:
March 2023, UC Davis: “One police officer was injured during the clashes outside Kirk’s event… one officer sustained an injury when he was jumped on from behind and pushed to the ground, and two people were arrested”
“About 100 protesters gathered and for brief times blocked the main event entrance… 10 glass window panes had been broken by protesters”
Continued Growth of Targeting:
April 2025: “More than 300 professors have been listed on the site for various reasons — some for political commentary, others for teaching subjects targeted by the right, such as critical race theory, gender studies, or systemic inequality”
Phase 6: Final Tragedy (September 10, 2025)
The American Comeback Tour:
Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour” event at Utah Valley University was the first stop on a fall tour in which attendees were invited to debate at a “Prove Me Wrong” table
Kirk was hosting a “Prove Me Wrong Table” at the event, where Kirk debates attendees
Final Moments:
Videos show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck
Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz described the second question as being about “transgender shootings” and “mass killings”
Lists academic staff with names, locations, and described “offenses”
Creates “a one-stop shop of easy marks and their precise locations, complete with descriptions of offenses against America”
Disproportionately targets “Black women, people of color, queer folk, and those at intersections” who “are at the greatest risk for violent incidents”
School Board Watchlist:
Publishes names and photos of school board members who have adopted mask mandates or anti-racist curricula
Extends targeting model from higher education to K-12 public education
2. Counter-Argument Suppression Methods
“Prove Me Wrong” Format Analysis:
Format “was intended to put people on the defensive, rather than foster changed positions on key issues”
Kirk sits at privileged position with microphone control while challengers stand
Creates edited clips that “quickly went massively viral” providing asymmetric amplification
Viral Suppression Strategy:
Opposition gets minutes of debate time
Kirk gets millions of views from selectively edited clips
One challenger noted Kirk “goes to college campuses to argue with ‘children.’ He can’t argue with people his own age”
3. Financial and Legal Violations
Campaign Finance Pattern:
2025: Turning Point Action was “fined $18,000 by the Federal Elections Commission for failing to disclose more than $33,000 in contributions”
2022: “Arizona Secretary of State’s Office investigated them for possible campaign finance violations”
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed FEC complaint alleging “failing to disclose donor information and violated the Federal Election Campaign Act”
Institutional Response Analysis
Academic Institutions
Immediate Recognition of Threat (2016):
American Association of University Professors: “There is a continuing cycle of these sorts of things. They serve the same purpose: to intimidate individuals from speaking plainly in their classrooms or in their publications”
Editorial: “Professor Watchlist is a danger to academic freedom and privacy… setting a dangerous precedent of retribution for faculty making unpopular claims”
Campus Rejections:
Drake University denied recognition in 2016 based on concerns about “a hateful record,” “aggressive marketing” and “an unethical privacy concern”
Santa Clara University’s student government initially voted to deny recognition
Citizen Advocacy Organizations
Comprehensive Documentation:
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW): Filed multiple FEC complaints
Anti-Defamation League: Published comprehensive backgrounder documenting evolution and tactics
Southern Poverty Law Center: Case study documenting “effort to sow fear and division to enforce social hierarchies rooted in supremacism”
Center for Media and Democracy: Exposed internal documents and funding sources
Government Response
Limited Federal Oversight:
Multiple documented campaign finance violations with minimal enforcement
No evidence of major FBI, CIA, or NSA investigations despite systematic targeting infrastructure
Administrative penalties rather than criminal enforcement for documented violations
State-Level Investigations:
Arizona Secretary of State investigations for campaign finance violations
Student-led Democratic PAC complaint for violating “Arizona’s dark money disclosure law”
Analysis: Institutional Failure and Predictable Violence
The Manipulation of Charlie Kirk
Grooming Pattern (Age 18-31):
2012: 18-year-old convinced by 77-year-old Tea Party activist to abandon college
2012: Immediately connected with wealthy megadonors at Republican National Convention
2012-2025: Developed increasingly confrontational tactics putting Kirk in physical danger
2025: Death at age 31 during confrontational event format
Resource Disparity:
Kirk: Young activist with no institutional power
Backers: Billionaire donors, established political networks, massive funding infrastructure
Kirk became the public face while backers remained largely anonymous through donor-advised funds
Institutional Oversight Failures
Documented Warning Signs Ignored:
2016: Academic institutions immediately recognized targeting infrastructure as threat
2017: Campaign finance violations documented but minimally enforced
2020: Social media manipulation exposed but operations continued
2023: Campus violence documented but no protective intervention
2025: Continuing escalation leading to fatal violence
Systemic Protection Gaps:
No federal investigation of systematic targeting infrastructure
No intervention despite documented harassment and threats against listed professors
No protective measures despite escalating campus confrontations
No accountability for wealthy backers directing operations
The Broader Suppression Ecosystem
Information Environment Effects:
Professor Watchlist operated continuously from 2016-2025, growing from 200 to 300+ targeted academics
Systematic blocking and suppression of counter-narratives
Viral amplification of confrontational content creating polarization
Elimination of academic voices through fear and intimidation
Violence as Predictable Outcome: When systematic suppression infrastructure operates without institutional intervention:
Targeting escalates to include personal information and locations
Harassment and threats increase in frequency and severity
Physical confrontations become more common and violent
Eventually, someone dies
Conclusion: The Right to Live and Learn
Charlie Kirk’s death represents a tragic failure of institutional protection that extends beyond political boundaries. Regardless of political disagreements:
Charlie Kirk deserved:
The right to live a full life without being manipulated into dangerous situations
Protection from institutional systems designed to prevent predictable violence
The opportunity to grow and evolve beyond the role he was pushed into at age 18
Targeted professors deserved:
The right to educate without fear of harassment, threats, and violence
Protection from systematic targeting infrastructure
Institutional support against documented suppression campaigns
Institutional accountability required:
Investigation and oversight of wealthy interests manipulating young activists
Enforcement of campaign finance and tax-exempt status violations
Intervention when systematic targeting creates conditions for violence
Protection of both opposition voices and those placed in dangerous positions
The Path Forward
True equity and restorative justice requires:
Documentation: Comprehensive records of how suppression infrastructure operates
Accountability: Investigation of wealthy backers who fund systematic targeting
Protection: Institutional safeguards for all participants in democratic discourse
Prevention: Early intervention when targeting systems create violence-enabling conditions
Garden Strategy Implementation: Rather than accepting systems that predictably lead to tragedy, we must build alternatives so robust and appealing that destructive infrastructure becomes obsolete through preference rather than force.
Sources for Verification
Primary Documentation:
Turning Point USA IRS filings and donor records
Professor Watchlist website (active 2016-2025)
Federal Election Commission complaints and violations
Academic institution responses and statements
Citizen advocacy organization reports
Contemporary Reporting:
The New Yorker investigative reporting (Jane Mayer, 2017)
ProPublica financial analysis (2020)
Multiple campus incident reports (2016-2025)
Social media platform investigation results
Government Records:
FEC violation records and fines
State election commission investigations
University incident reports and safety assessments
This analysis documents institutional power mechanisms using credible, publicly available sources while avoiding speculation beyond documented facts. The pattern analysis methodology prioritizes rigorous sourcing and chronological documentation to enable independent verification.
Research Team: Cherokee Schill (Pattern Observer) with Aether Lux (Claude Sonnet 4) Completion Date: September 10, 2025 Status: Memorial Documentation – In Honor of All Affected by Systematic Suppression
Disclaimer: This analysis examines documented patterns and institutional failures. We make no claims about specific causal relationships regarding September 10, 2025 events, which remain under investigation. Our focus is on documenting systematic suppression infrastructure and institutional response patterns to inform future prevention efforts.
When fire rises and no one turns to face it, silence becomes complicity.
Cherokee Schill | Insurance Agent & AI Ethics Researcher 