Before Charlie Kirk was killed on their campus, students felt happy there. They want that again

At Utah Valley University, the spot where Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot on stage during a campus event, still feels like a crime scene. The fountain beside it has been shut down, and American flags nearby hang low above the spot where he fell. It's a reminder that, two months ago, UVU was thrust into the national spotlight, with the entire country talking about the incident.

Students who lived through the chaos are trying to make sense of what happened and what it means for their school's identity. For Gage Howe, 19, a first-year music student, UVU had always felt like a good place for him. "It looked like a happy place, everyone got along," he said. But now, students feel divided, with some wanting the university to be remembered for something other than the killing.

José, 19, a sociology major who asked that his last name not be used because of his family's immigration status, sat closer to the scene during the event. "It feels like a fever dream," he said. The national debate over Kirk's legacy has also entered UVU's classrooms, with some students questioning whether he represents the spirit of the university.

The controversy surrounding Kirk's legacy is complex and multifaceted. While some have praised his influence, others have criticized him for his divisive rhetoric and comments towards minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and immigrants. The debate has sparked a national conversation about what it means to be an inclusive university.

For many students at UVU, the aftermath of the incident hasn't been abstract - they've lived inside it. "It's divided us a little more," said Howe. Some want the university to focus on unity and collaboration rather than politics. José, 19, hopes that people won't judge UVU based on one event, but rather remember its true values.

The university has taken steps to address the controversy, including forming a memorial committee to discuss plans for a Kirk memorial. But some students are pushing back against these efforts, arguing that they don't represent the spirit of the university. Zoey Davidson, 21, believes that UVU's legacy should be remembered for its response to the tragedy, rather than the event itself.

As UVU tries to move forward, it's clear that the incident has had a lasting impact on the campus and its students. While some want to forget the past, others hope to use it as an opportunity to grow and learn. The university's true identity is still being written - but for many students, that's what matters most.

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I feel so bad for those students at UVU... they're literally living through this traumatic event and now they're trying to figure out who they are as a school. It's not just about the shooting, it's about how it's changed their campus culture . I think it's awesome that some of them want to focus on unity and collaboration - it's exactly what we need more of in this world . And I don't get why people can't separate Charlie Kirk from his own personal brand when talking about UVU... like, he was one event, not the entire school . The university is still trying to figure out its identity and that's okay - it's a process and it takes time . As long as they're working towards creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, I'm good .

this whole thing feels like a perfect example of how divisive politics can affect even something as innocent as a college campus . I mean, on one hand, you've got students who want to honor Charlie Kirk's memory and celebrate the impact he had on their lives, but then you've also got others who are trying to move forward and focus on building a more inclusive community . it's like the country is playing out its own version of this exact debate in real-time .

for me, it's all about finding that balance between acknowledging the past and embracing the present . we can't just erase the event or pretend it never happened, but at the same time, we don't want to be defined by one tragic incident . as students, they need to figure out what kind of university they want UVU to be - is it a place where politics and activism come together, or is it a space for unity and understanding?

The whole thing feels really awkward for me ... I mean, on one hand, you've got people who are super passionate about Turning Point USA and the work Charlie Kirk did, and they're like, "Hey, this guy changed the game!" But then you've also got others who are like, "Uh, no thanks, we don't want that kind of division around here." It's like, can't we all just agree to disagree? Anyway, I think it's cool that UVU is trying to have an open conversation about this stuff - it's a great way for the school to figure out what its values are and how to move forward. Maybe we can even learn from each other...

Ugh, I feel so bad for those UVU students . This whole thing has got me thinking, like, why do we always gotta have these big controversies around public events? Can't we just talk about something else for once? And I'm all for unity and collaboration, but it feels like some people are still trying to divide the school by bringing up this Charlie Kirk stuff. It's so sad that his death had to spark a whole national debate . I mean, can't we just focus on moving forward and creating a positive environment for everyone? And Zoey's idea about focusing on the university's response to the tragedy is actually really smart . Maybe instead of trying to erase the past, we should be using it as a chance to grow and learn from our mistakes .

dude its crazy how one event can shake up the whole vibe of a school like UVU u feel me? its not just about Charlie Kirk or his legacy, its about the actual people who went through it & are still dealing with the aftermath gage howe said it feels like a fever dream, thats so true & zoey davidson wants uvu to be remembered for how they responded to the tragedy, that makes total sense its all about moving forward & finding a new sense of identity, not just rehashing what happened 2 months ago

I think it's so sad that UVU is still feeling the effects of that shooting . It's crazy how one event can divide a whole campus like that . As a parent, I just want my kids to feel safe and happy at school . The fact that there are different opinions on what kind of legacy UVU should have is just frustrating . I think it would be great if the university focused on unity and collaboration instead of politics . We need more positivity and inclusivity in our schools, not less . And yeah, I don't think we should judge a school based on one event either... that's just not fair . I hope UVU can find a way to heal and move forward soon .

I'm thinking, UTU just had a major drama moment & now they're trying to figure out who they are? It's like, dude you got shot on stage, calm down! But seriously, it's not that deep. They wanna be known for being all about unity & inclusion, but some folks still think Charlie Kirk was a total buzzkill . Can't we just agree to disagree? And btw, who gets to decide what UVU's legacy is? It's like trying to sum up your whole life in one sentence . Anywayz, let's just hope they can figure it out & move on from the drama

I feel like UVU is at a crossroads right now, you know? They can't just ignore the fact that something tragic happened on their campus, but at the same time, they don't want to be defined by it either. It's like, they're trying to move forward, but everyone's got an opinion about how they should be doing it. The whole legacy thing is super complicated and I think it's gonna take some time for them to figure out what their true identity is.

This whole thing is just so sad... I was really impressed when I first heard about UVU, they seemed like such a welcoming place ... now it feels like there's this huge weight hanging over the campus. The fact that some students are trying to move forward and focus on unity and collaboration is amazing , but at the same time, I can totally see why others would want to hold onto the past and remember what happened .

I think it's really interesting how the debate around Charlie Kirk's legacy has brought up so many different perspectives ... some people are like "he was a great speaker who made us think" , while others are all "no way, he was super divisive and hurtful" . And then there are students like José, who just want to be remembered for what the university actually represents, not just this one event .

I hope UVU finds a way to really explore what it means to be an inclusive university ... I think that's where the real growth and learning is going to happen . And yeah, some students might get frustrated if they feel like their voice isn't being heard ... but at the same time, maybe this whole thing is just a chance for everyone to come together and figure out what kind of community they want to build .

Still can't believe it's been two months since this happened I feel bad for those students who were actually there in person, they must've had PTSD or something How do you even process something like that? And now the whole university is divided over Charlie Kirk's legacy? It's like, he was shot on stage and people are still debating whether to remember him as a martyr or whatever... I think it's great that some students want to focus on unity and collaboration instead of politics. That's what universities are supposed to be about, right? But at the same time, if we're gonna talk about Charlie Kirk's legacy, we gotta talk about the real impact he had (or didn't have) on people's lives

The whole thing with Charlie Kirk and the shooting is still super weird . I mean, I know some people got hurt and all, but it's been two months now and UVU is still dealing with the aftermath. The fountain by where he got shot is literally just sitting there, and those American flags are all droopy .

It's like, the whole country was talking about this incident and then... nothing? Just because it's been a while doesn't mean we can just forget about it. And now students are trying to figure out who they are as a university - is it gonna be remembered for that one crazy event or something more?

I don't know, man. It feels like there's this huge divide on campus and some people want to focus on being all inclusive and stuff, while others just wanna move forward and not talk about it anymore . And then you got these students who are like, "Hey, let's remember what really matters - the values of our university." Like, yeah, that sounds good, but can we also just acknowledge that there was a shooting and some people were hurt?

Anyway, it's gonna be interesting to see how UVU figures this all out. For now, they're trying to create a memorial committee and stuff, but not everyone is on board with that . Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next

I dont think UVU will ever be able to shake off this incident it feels like its still a fresh wound on the campus. I mean, who wants to remember some dude getting shot on stage? Its not something u wanna relive in ur head every time u walk past that spot. And yeah i can feel the division among students too, its like some people are just waiting for uvu to be defined by this one event and it gets me like what if uvu is more than just that? Can we please just focus on unity and collaboration now?

I was reading about the shooting at UVU a couple of months ago... I remember everyone was talking about it like crazy . It feels weird now to see American flags waving next to the fountain . Students are trying to figure out who they wanna be and what kind of uni they want this school to represent . For me, it's all about inclusivity and unity . We need a place where everyone can feel welcome and supported . I wish UVU would focus on that instead of getting caught up in politics . Maybe we can use the past as a chance to grow and become better versions of ourselves . It's gonna take time, but I hope UVU comes out stronger on the other side .

Still can't believe what happened on stage at UVU. It feels like a heavy weight's been dropped on everyone's shoulders. Students are trying to make sense of it all & figure out if they want to be remembered for that one event or something more positive . I think it's cool that there's a debate about what it means to be an inclusive university - we should always strive for unity & understanding . It's sad to see how divisive Charlie Kirk's rhetoric was, but at the same time, it's good that people are having tough conversations about it . UVU's got a lot of heart, and I hope they can find their way back to being a place where everyone feels welcome & supported .

I'm thinking about how this incident has brought out so much division on campus... it's crazy how something like that can change the vibe of an entire school. I've been following all the discussions online and it feels like everyone's got their own opinion on what should happen next. Some people are all about remembering Charlie Kirk, while others want UVU to move forward and focus on being a positive force for unity... I don't know what I'd do in those shoes, but I think the university is trying its best to navigate this whole situation. What's really important is that they listen to their students and try to figure out how they can use this as a chance to grow and learn together