Students at the campus where Charlie Kirk was killed long for the happiness they once felt

The area where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot is now cordoned off. The nearby fountain has been turned off, and American flags hang solemnly above the location. Occasionally, visitors leave flowers or pause for a quiet moment of reflection. Security personnel and police presence have increased, with many stationed around campus, as if the university itself has yet to fully recover.

Back in 2019, Utah Valley University (UVU) was a bustling campus of nearly 46,000 students, known for its diversity and significant number of first-generation college students. That changed dramatically on September 10, 2025, when 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, was shot during a campus event. The attack ignited national outrage and political debate, adding to a series of incidents marked by political violence.

Two months later, UVU is at the center of national conversations. Students who experienced the event are grappling with its impact on the schools identity. Emotions range from numbness to division, while many hope the university will be remembered for something beyond the tragedy.

For Gage Howe, 19, a first-year music student, UVU had always seemed inviting. It felt welcoming, like a happy place where everyone got along, he recalled. On the day of the shooting, his only classa history lecturewas canceled so students could attend the event. I stayed home and saw the news. At first, I thought it was a joke until friends started texting me: Did you hear what just happened?

Jos, a 19-year-old sociology student who requested anonymity due to his familys immigration status, was near the scene, sitting in a cafeteria. It felt surreal, like a fever dream, he said. Even though it was two months ago, the global attention made it feel like years.

Freshman Zoey Davidson, 21, from Wyoming, remembers the profound silence that followed. The campus felt uncertain and eerily quiet right after it happened, she said.

Nationally, vigils were held, eulogies celebrated Kirks influence, and debates about his legacy emerged. Critics, including prominent voices like Ta-Nehisi Coates, highlighted Kirks history of inflammatory rhetoric, prompting backlash against some who voiced dissent. Former President Donald Trump blamed the radical left and declared a National Day of Remembrance for Kirk.

For UVU students, the impact was immediate and personal. Its caused divisions, Howe said. I just want the campus to be a place where people are treated equally, without politics. Many students were unfamiliar with Kirks work before the shooting and expressed unease about the push to frame him as a unifying figure.

Howe noted Kirks divisive nature. I didnt follow much of his work, but he crossed the line several times. Jos, who moved from Venezuela to Utah, described the experience as surreal. It wasnt fear that struck me, but the overwhelming attention from media and visitors, he explained. He saw Kirk as someone who targeted minorities and immigrants, noting that his family remains vigilant under Trumps return to office.

The discussion over Kirks legacy has reached UVU classrooms. On September 21, the university established the UVU Memorial Committee, co-chaired by Scott M. Smith and Amanda Covington. On October 21, students from the Students for a Democratic Society protested the committees plans for a memorial, citing Kirks divisive statements toward minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and immigrants. The committee has not issued a response.

UVU President Dr. Astrid Tuminez spoke cautiously about the memorial during a Washington Post interview, emphasizing thoughtful reflection. We need to consider what we memorialize and whether its something future generations can respect, she said.

Jos believes the university cannot control Kirks legacy. No one wants this to define UVU. People come here to study, not be remembered for that day. I want the focus to be on community, collaboration, and hard work. Zoey echoed this sentiment, hoping the university is remembered for the unity and support students showed in the aftermath. The love and togetherness we found after the eventthats the legacy I want for UVU.

Author: Sophia Brooks