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Fifth Column

Illinois State University Teaching Assistant Who Flipped Over TPUSA Table Fired

2025-10-25

[Gateway Pundit] The Gateway Pundit reported that students manning a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) table at Illinois State University (ISU) watched as an angry man flipped their table over and tore down flags ahead of an event featuring Alex Stein.

The hater of free speech, 27-year-old graduate student Derek Lopez, was identified as a teaching assistant(TA) at the university. Following the incident, Lopez was arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Damage to Property.

Illinois State University Police Department (ISUPD) shared detail of the arrest on social media noting, "On October 17, 2025, after an investigation by the Illinois State University Police Department (ISUPD), 27-year-old Derek Lopez, of El Paso, IL, was arrested in Normal on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Damage to Property. Lopez is a graduate student and teaching assistant at Illinois State University."

"Over the last week Lopez is alleged to have disrupted two informational tabling events being hosted by a registered student organization. ISUPD was contacted by the registered student organization following the escalation leading to an investigation, identification, and arrest. This case is pending and may be grounds for additional charges and University disciplinary action."

"Chief Aaron Woodruff stated, "We are committed to protecting the First Amendment rights as well as safety of everyone in our campus community. We encourage all members of our community to learn more about free speech rights and responsibilities at Illinois State University, including constructive ways to respond when encountering speech they may disagree with."

According to The Vidette, the student newspaper for ISU, Lopez has now been "relieved of his position."

Graduate student and teaching assistant Derek Lopez was dismissed from his position today following his arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.

On Oct. 17, Lopez allegedly disrupted two informational tabling events hosted by Illinois State University’s Turning Point USA chapter.

"While Illinois State University does not comment specifically on personnel matters, we can confirm Derek Lopez has been relieved of his duties as a graduate teaching assistant pending further investigation," ISU Director of Media Relations Chris Coplan said.

TPUSA Illinois State University vice president Matt Saner and chapter president Ben Umbdenstock spoke with Fox News and noted the incident captured on video was the second time Lopez flipped their table.

The first table flipping occurred on October 13. A week later, Lopez approached the table again and repeated the violence.

Per Fox News:

"No one has ever gone out of their way and... flipped our table, not only once but twice, and then gotten so bad where we had to go, you know, talk to the university about it," said TPUSA Illinois State University vice president Matt Saner.

Umbdenstock shared that the reason the Friday incident was recorded was because they anticipated another incident following the first table flipping.

"Once we saw him... then I told our rep to record ’cause we knew something was gonna go down maybe," said Umbdenstock.

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