Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez expressed profound grief and shock over the death of Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a campus event.
In a statement released Wednesday night, Tuminez said, “On behalf of Utah Valley University, we are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk. We express our sincere condolences to the Kirk family. We grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy.”
Kirk had been invited to speak by students involved with the university’s Turning Point USA chapter, part of the nationwide youth organization he co-founded in 2012, which now operates around 800 college chapters across the United States.
Tuminez emphasized the university’s commitment to free and open discourse, condemning the killing as an affront to those principles.
She stated, “The university is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully. Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here. We do not condone any form of violence at UVU and seek to make our campus a safe place for all.”
Her remarks underscored the impact of the incident on the campus community, reflecting not only the loss of a prominent national figure but also the trauma experienced by students, faculty, and staff who witnessed the attack firsthand.
