Students once again debate Turning Point speaker on Sanford Mall

Students once again debate Turning Point speaker on Sanford Mall Categories: Campus News Top Stories Students once again debate Turning Point speaker on Sanford Mall Jen Wallace, Associate Political News Editor October 14, 2026 Liz Townsend Members of App State’s chapter of Turning Point USA stand in front of the “Pick Up The Mic” presentation with various signage on Sanford Mall Oct. 12. Students gathered on Sanford Mall Monday to listen and participate in Turning Point USA’s second Pick Up The Mic Initiative event at App State. Will Witt, the event’s speaker, is a Christian conservative author and contributor to TPUSA. Students were encouraged by members of App State’s TPUSA chapter to go up and ask questions, speak their minds and respond to prompts like, “America is not a racist country” and “It’s Columbus Day not Indigenous Peoples Day.” Witt stayed seated in a tent while students lined up behind a microphone to debate him. The topics ranged from students asking for advice on how to be a conservative Christian on a liberal-leaning college campus to how Witt felt about the Epstein Files and systemic racism in America.  A sign reading “America IS NOT a racist country” held up by a member of App State’s chapter of Turning Point USA on Sanford Mall Oct. 12. (Liz Townsend) At the beginning of the event, many App State TPUSA members lined up to ask Witt about his views on different topics. Some asked about Christian values and being a conservative; others asked about abortion and the Cornell Seven. “You’d go on TikTok and like every other video is like Lindsay Clancy, Cornell Seven, any of the things. So, I felt like it was important to see it from a more mature and an older generation standpoint compared to just the social media divide of people going at each other’s throat,” said Chloe Lytle, a junior criminal justice major and member of the App State chapter of TPUSA.  As the event progressed, more students joined the crowd and began to go up to the mic and speak.  Cameron Carter, a sophomore psychology major, debated with Witt on the statement “America is not a racist country.” “I feel like he really wants to deny a lot of stuff because he himself hasn’t experienced it,” Carter said. “The way they act as though racism doesn’t exist comes from a place of ignorance because they’re all white people standing up there and then they go and say white people actually face racism. But they also say there’s no such thing as systemic racism. So which is it, you know?” Guest speaker Will Witt during a “Prove Me Wrong” presentation on Sanford Mall Oct. 12. (Liz Townsend) While some students stuck to the topics TPUSA had on their posters, some asked about Witt’s thoughts on other topics such as abortion and the separation of church and state.  “I would say that I think he is looking at it more from a perspective of what it is like to be a man in this country rather than what it’s like to be a woman. Cause if you ask, I think any woman that is a Bible-believing conservative even, they would have a different perspective cause they’ve actually walked that life,” said Mallorey Hayes, a freshman social work and psychology major. She spoke to Witt about abortion and women’s rights.  Some thought the discourse was productive and it was good to have students debate someone with different views.  “I think it’s good to talk about what you agree and disagree with. I mean a lot of people are going to hate on him for who he is and what he thinks, but I think it’s good talking,” said Matthew Thigpen, a junior construction management major.   Thigpen said the discourse he had with Witt was polite, and he had no reason to get angry even if Witt said something that made him mad.   Many who spoke to Witt and those who were in the crowd said they felt Witt wasn’t being open-minded during the debates.  “I think that is a waste of time and these people are losers and especially this Will Witt guy. He makes his entire career debating college students. I just think it’s such a waste of time in the sense that I don’t think these people actually believe in productive debate,” said Will Davis, a junior sustainable technology major.  Other students agreed with this, saying Witt wasn’t open to hearing different sides and he was contradicting himself.  “I feel like he has mixed words, cause that sign right there says America is not a racist country, but then when they asked about Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, he strictly invalidates Indigenous people, showing a certain type of prejudice,” said Loren Johnson, a freshman criminal justice major.  Many students who watched the debates said they would not go up to Witt themselves. Some said it was because they were nervous to speak in front of such a large crowd, while others said they didn’t want to give energy and attention to TPUSA. Some audience members thought the organization was provoking students and engaging in debates to gain content for their social media. “Pick Up The Mic Initiative” hosted by Turning Point USA joins Sanford Mall Oct. 12. (Jordan Rosenthal) “They want clicks. They want someone to be explosive and really argue with this guy so they can get a million views on it,” Davis said.  App State TPUSA members approached Davis and asked him to go up and debate because he was being vocal in the crowd; Davis stuck to his beliefs and did not interact with Witt.  Students brought up the power imbalance they felt, either watching the conversation or debating Witt.  The discourse grew more tense as the event progressed and ended with a debate over the Epstein Files and President Donald Trump, where Witt asked to be shown evidence of Trump committing crimes.  “If you can find me the example, then I’ll say I believe you,” Witt said.  He then ended the event saying he had to get on a plane in Charlotte. Witt and his team did not respond to a request for comment. View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment Tags: debate Turning Point USA Donate to The Appalachian $400 $2,500 Contributed Our Goal We hope you appreciated this article! Before you move on, please consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. The bulk of our operational expenses — including printing, website hosting, training, and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the support, whether financial or otherwise, of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of time and money from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends. 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