Utah universities face controversy following Charlie Kirk assassination

Public records obtained via the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act have revealed hostile communications from Utah Valley University (UVU) faculty members following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on the UVU campus. The 133 pages of emails and text messages, obtained by Judicial Watch, show instructors sending messages to administrators, including then-President Astrid S. Tuminez, criticizing Kirk and opposing efforts to memorialize him.

One instructor described Kirk as a threat to students and argued that he “appealed to the worst of us,” suggesting that memorializing him would be a “grave mistake.”

Separately, tensions have escalated at the University of Utah following a controversy involving student organizations. The University of Utah College Democrats protested against the College Republicans after a photo of a student with a “Happy Kirkiversary” cake went viral. The incident has led to allegations of doxxing and public shaming, drawing attention from political figures including Senator Mike Lee and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.