TPUSA’s Boise State chapter receives surprise on-campus visit from Erika Kirk

Cole McAdams and Emilia Rose Nowinski

Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), had an impromptu lunch meeting on Sept. 17 with a few members of Boise State’s chapter in the Ah Fong room of the Student Union Building.

She took over her husband’s role following his assasination last September at Utah Valley University and is currently involved in a wrongful-death notice with the university. D. Loren Washburn, the Kirk family attorney, claims UVU’s  “reckless decisions” led to the incident.

Boise State’s Department of Public Safety told The Arbiter the department was not informed ahead of time about Kirk’s visit. 

A call from TPUSA Chief Field Officer Andrew Sypher to Boise State’s chapter President Cade Syvock sparked the get-together. Kirk’s involvement in the meeting was kept secret over text messages, with the field officer asking if Syvock and his chapter were interested in meeting a “very influential speaker,” according to Syvock.

“We had no idea it was going to be her … when she walked in, everybody immediately stood up and the room went quiet.” Syvock said. “I got a text saying, ‘You could have five people with you [at the lunch],’ — I wanted people that were hardworking, that had a passion for their country.”

Attendees included Syvock, Caleb Perkins, TPUSA vice president and ASBSU government relations officer,  Isabella Ruffoni, TPUSA secretary, David Feffer, TPUSA treasurer, Carson Cole, ASBSU student body president, Austin Rose, ASBSU associate vice president of presidential affairs alongside several other students.

Syvock told The Arbiter that Kirk entered giving hugs and asked the team to introduce themselves and share their involvement in TPUSA. According to the organization’s website, the non-profit’s mission is to educate, defend and protect constitutional values, advocating for limited government through community outreach.

“It didn’t feel like I was in the room with someone very well known throughout the country,” Syvock said. “I was in the room with another person having lunch and chatting about politics, life and religion.”

Kirk arrived in Idaho to speak at Nampa Christian School, a private religious institution with around 265 high school students. 

Her visit is a part of TPUSA’s Club America Tour in high schools. Earlier this year, Gov. Brad Little signed a proclamation encouraging students to join Club America chapters in high schools across the state.

“It means a lot to me,” Perkins said. “I think it really shows that she cares about the young students who are trying to carry Charlie’s legacy forward.”

Kirk left campus shortly after lunch with Boise State’s TPUSA chapter.