North Cook News

Glenbrook North High School leadership has rejected students' requests to establish a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter, with officials citing overlap with existing clubs and the applicants’ inability to secure a faculty sponsor—a required step in the club approval process.

Nate Vass, a 2025 Glenbrook North graduate said he and fellow student Matthew Ricciardi attempted to start a TPUSA chapter last school year but were told it was too similar to existing clubs.

“We went through the process and everything, and we were denied,” Vass told North Cook News.

Students involved in the effort spoke out during a candlelight vigil honoring Charlie Kirk following the TPUSA founder's Sept. 10 assassination. 

About 300 people gathered at Northbrook’s Village Green for the vigil, where families and children sang patriotic songs, including the national anthem and carried American flags. 

In a letter to the community released on Sept. 17, Glenbrook North administrators said the TPUSA club application was denied during the fall 2024 review process and students interested in starting the club were “directed to participate in existing clubs or programs" such as the Current Events Club and Student Association.

“Current Events Club is a great club, but it is not Turning Point at all,” Vass continued. 

Vass emphasized the distinct mission and level of engagement that sets Turning Point apart from the Current Events Club.

“Turning Point is a much more active organization—getting voters registered, educating people on the Constitution, free markets, fiscal responsibility, civil liberties—just so many more things,” he said. 

The letter from Glenbrook North was signed by Principal Mandy Hughes and Superintendent Dr. R.J. Gravel. 

“Glenbrook North remains committed to student choice and free expression within an environment of belonging,” the letter reads.  

While the letter did address several questions posed to school leadership on the issue, Glenbrook North did not directly respond to an interview request from North Cook News. 

Vass, now a freshman at the University of Missouri where he serves as an executive for the campus Turning Point USA chapter, believes the denial was about ideology rather than redundancy.

“I feel the school is trying to silence students' voices that go against what they believe in their personal political values. And they're trying to silence student voices,” Vass said. 

Vass connected the school’s actions to what he sees as a broader national trend of silencing conservative viewpoints.

“It’s been hard times in our country, especially with the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Vass said. “Freedom of speech is under attack in our country and it’s sad. It really is and they're taking away freedom of speech at Glenbrook North High School.” 

Attempts to prevent Turning Point USA from starting chapters at other schools have surfaced in the past. 

In October 2021, Lyons Township High School administrators abruptly shut down a student-led Turning Point USA event just 30 minutes before it was set to begin, citing an unverified threat. In response, students and supporters, including then-gubernatorial candidate Gary Rabine, rallied at a nearby park to protest what they described as an attack on free speech and conservative values.

Peter Christos, a 2022 graduate of Glenbrook North and a former high school field representative for TPUSA who organized Sunday’s vigil, said he’s seen this kind of rejection pattern before, especially in Illinois.

“I attempted to lead a Turning Point USA chapter at Glenbrook North,” Christos told North Cook News. "Additionally, I worked for Turning Point USA for the last three years. I left earlier this year. My job was to oversee all the high schools in Missouri and Northern Indiana. Glenbrook North is part of my territory.” 

He described the denial as part of a broader issue within Chicago’s North Shore suburbs.

“It was definitely a bigger thing in Illinois, especially in more liberal areas like Northbrook and the Chicago North Shores,” Christo said.” They’re not as liberal as you might think; it’s just that the people in charge are liberal. So, they kind of have to ruin it for everybody. These students make up 50% of the student body, maybe more, and they are very sympathetic to Turning Point USA.”

Christos emphasized that TPUSA is non-partisan. 

“Turning Point USA is not a Republican organization,” he said. “It's not a Democrat organization. It's a non-partisan 501c3 registered nonprofit organization. For Glenbrook North to allow a progressive ultra-liberal organization like Students Demand Action and Gender Sexuality Alliance, it's a double standard to not allow Turning Point USA, which is a non-partisan nonprofit.” 

According to Christos, the school’s explanation that TPUSA’s activities overlapped with other clubs, which Vass said was the primary reason they were denied, doesn’t hold up.

“That's simply not true,” Christos said. “There are no clubs that share Turning Point U.S.A.'s core values of promoting free speech on campus, limited government, and advocating for free market capitalism and celebrating American values in the Constitution. There's no club like that already.”  

Christos believes Glenbrook North’s decision is more than just an oversight. 

“This is 100% discriminatory, this is 100% a violation of freedom of speech,” Christos said. 

Now, the pressure may be mounting. Turning Point USA has received over 37,000 new chapter requests following Kirk assassination, potentially increasing its presence on high school and college campuses nearly twentyfold. Currently, TPUSA has about 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters, with a total presence on 3,500 campuses nationwide.

Christos says national civil rights advocates are taking notice.

“My phone's been blowing up—and I don't even work for Turning Point USA anymore—and my social media's been blowing up,” he said. “There are people in Harmeet Dhillon’s office—who is the civil rights attorney for the United States—who are investigating this.” 

Christos expressed deep admiration for Kirk, describing the slain leader as a mentor.

“Charlie Kirk sent a signed book to my house when I was 14,” Christos said. “It said, ‘Peter, you are doing a truly amazing job. Keep the faith, stay focused, work hard, and win. Please get involved with Turning Point USA.’ That changed everything.”

In 2022, Christos said Kirk provided personal support to him after he was assaulted by a fellow student after launching an anti-mask initiative at Glenbrook North during the era of Covid protocols. 

“I was violently assaulted by a leftist lunatic,” Christos said. “Charlie took the time out of his busy schedule because he was busy 365 days a year—like, he had no days off. He would always make time for church and his family, but he flew to Illinois to do a rally with me. And that's a core memory I'm never going to forget.” 

Christos described his time as a political activist in Northbrook as difficult, saying he was often targeted by opponents. 

Area conservative leaders told North Cook News they discovered a dossier on Christos, compiled by progressive political figures when he was still a teenager. 

“I would say it's definitely been a lot worse than good,” Christos said. “I've been doxxed. I've had my car vandalized. I've heard death threats. I've had to leave the state at points. I've had fake social media pages made about me. I've had relentless, horrific lies and slander made about me, false reporting about me. But even with all of that—I mean, that's what comes with being in politics. You have to be prepared for all of that.”

Both Vass and Christos are calling for Glenbrook North to reverse its decision.

“I would just like to see Glenbrook North High School approve Turning Point USA Club because that is the right thing to do,” Vass said. “That is the legally correct thing to do if you look at the Equal Access Act.” 

Christos echoed that sentiment and said he’s not backing down.

"I'm just gonna be there where I can and make sure that Charlie's legacy doesn't die,” he said. “I just stepped away from politics for the last six months, but now I'm ready to go back in because this is our turning point. This is our moment.”