Campus Political Meeting Erupts in Physical Confrontation
A Colorado college student has been accused of violently striking an elderly man during celebrations over the approval of a new Turning Point USA chapter on campus. The incident occurred on November 7 at Fort Lewis College, where tensions ran high during a politically charged student government meeting.
Megan Elizabeth Hope Mollet, a Fort Lewis College student who police said uses they/them pronouns and goes by Nova, was allegedly caught hitting 66-year-old local resident Dave Peters. The confrontation unfolded shortly after the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College voted to approve the controversial TPUSA chapter in an emergency meeting.
Heated Exchange Captured on Camera
According to a police report first obtained by Fox News, approximately 70 people attended the meeting where many "shared opposing political beliefs." The situation escalated when Peters, the former chair of the La Plata County GOP and a retired Chevron Corporation executive, approached a student who was "booing and yelling."
Police stated that Peters "pulled out his phone and began recording the student with his phone approximately a foot away from the student's face." The report noted that Mollet then began striking Peters with her phone and hand while holding an empty Taco Bell cup.
Footage from the incident showed Mollet with her hands up as she was confronted by a police officer after the alleged strike. Despite the physical nature of the encounter, Mollet was not formally arrested and was let off with a warning, with her case being filed as 'harassment.'
Aftermath and University Response
Peters told Fox News after the incident that he did not want to press charges against Mollet but hoped the university would discipline her. "After they adjourned the meeting and the people started walking out, about 20 of us started clapping and then there was a fair amount of students that were booing," he recounted.
The police officer who filed the report wrote that he believed the incident was overblown and attendees needed to calm down. "I told Mollett I understood tensions were high due to a politically motivated meeting that was happening, but they needed to take a breath and calm down," the report stated.
A Fort Lewis College spokesperson said in a statement: "All Fort Lewis College students are expected to uphold the standards outlined in our Student Code of Conduct. The college affirms the importance of free speech while maintaining expectations for civility and safety."
The university declined to comment on whether Mollet would face disciplinary action, citing federal privacy laws that protect student conduct information. However, they confirmed that "the college takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and follows established disciplinary procedures."
The TPUSA chapter's approval came after the student government group had previously rejected a proposal from senior Jonah Flynn, drawing significant scrutiny on campus and highlighting the ongoing tensions around free speech and political expression in university settings.
