Sussex Hamilton High School’s Principal Dominic Bauer has overruled a student council decision that refused to allow students to form a Turning Point USA chapter.
Principal Bauer’s decision is a change to the school’s status quo for the process of forming new clubs. Previously, all clubs were subject to approval from the student council. In a letter sent by Bauer on Tuesday, November 25, he stated that the student council will no longer retain that power.
Earlier this month, students formed “Club America”, a school group associated with Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA. The student council voted against allowing the club to form, but Principal Bauer overturned their vote.
Additional problems began when posters for “Club America” were hung in the hallways and members of the student council began to remove them.
Bauer justified his decision by citing the Equal Access Act of 1984, a law that was discovered by both he and the school’s athletic director.
The Equal Access Act of 1984 is a federal law that requires public secondary schools receiving federal funds to give student clubs equal access to meet on campus, regardless of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of their speech, as long as certain conditions are met.
Bauer indicated that his decision to restrict the student council’s oversight of new club formation is necessary to follow the Equal Access Act. Without it, the school could arguably be in violation of federal law.
The Sussex Hamilton School District released a letter to parents, students, and staff which went on to explain that:
“Our principal has become the target of hateful phone calls, emails and social media posts from individuals who do not reside within our district… As Principal Bauer told Ms. Rae during his November 20 interview, in hindsight, he wishes he would have requested a special meeting to speak to the entire Student Council the week of October 27-31 rather than waiting until their next scheduled meeting.”
Bauer has continued to face threats over his accordance with federal law, including media backlash and a change petition intended to remove him from his position at the high school.
