UVU Reopens After Charlie Kirk Killing as Campus Remembers and Reflects

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY reopened its Orem campus a week after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot on Sept. 10, 2025, as students and staff returned to a landscape altered by tragedy. A large American flag draped over the area where Kirk was killed now dominates the scene outside the campus, and the atmosphere on the grounds was described as quiet and tense by students who spoke with Fox News Digital as they returned to class and to mourn the incident.

Kirk, 31, was shot while taking questions from UVU students last Wednesday. After a 33-hour manhunt, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested and charged in connection with the killing, according to authorities. Local officials, including a spokesperson identified as Gray, outlined the formal charges against Robinson during a Tuesday press conference, followed by the suspect’s first court appearance. The specific charges were not detailed in the briefing provided to reporters on site. UVU officials and campus security have cautioned that investigations remain ongoing as the case proceeds through the courts.

As students returned to classes, memorials began to fill a patch of grass outside the campus courtyard and spread into the surrounding walkways. The growing displays—bouquets, notes, signs—served as a focal point for students, faculty and staff who described the reopening as a moment of both mourning and resolution. UVU said it would host a campus and community-wide vigil on Friday to “come together in remembering, healing, and reaffirming shared values.”

Afton Miller, a UVU student who said she was five to ten feet away from Kirk when he was shot, told Fox News Digital that no one should ever be able to say they witnessed a school shooting, much less the assassination of someone who inspired them. “This is somewhere that we go to further our lives, and it could also be the place where it ends our lives,” Miller said as she returned to the assassination site for the first time since the incident. The moment underscored the fragile sense of safety many students described as they walked the campus ground around the memorial.

Jessie Ball, another UVU student who spoke with Fox News Digital, said she had watched friends and classmates—some who identify as atheists—return to prayer in the days after the shooting. “A lot of people like myself, who are kind of afraid of speaking up, we’ve gotten over that a little because we think that his messages were important to hear,” Ball said, cradling tears as she reflected on the campus’s reaction to Kirk’s death. The sense of apprehension was palpable among many students, with Ryder Warner describing the campus as hard to navigate emotionally as the investigation continued and people processed the event.

Trae Stevens, who grew up in Spanish Fork near the campus, visited UVU to pay respects and said that witnessing the attack on someone with a public platform makes the threat feel closer to home. “To see that this could happen so close to home is really scary,” Stevens said, adding that Charlie Kirk’s message about free expression was part of a broader national conversation that has intensified in the wake of the shooting. “Like Charlie said, silence creates violence,” Stevens added, emphasizing the need to address emotions before policy discussions.

As the campus reopened for students seeking mental health resources and for employees returning to work, the memorials persist as a living reminder of the tragedy. The campus and community have signaled ongoing support, with counselors and outreach resources made readily available to students facing trauma and anxiety in the wake of the incident.

Administrators have emphasized unity in the face of the violence, with Utah leaders urging calm and solidarity. Officials described the killing as a turning point that underscored the need for communities to come together in the wake of acts of political violence and to recommit to shared civic values. While the investigation continues, campus leaders said the reopening would be a chance to reflect, heal, and continue the work of supporting students as they pursue education and personal growth.

UVU students have expressed a range of emotions about the broader political discourse surrounding the event. Some said they felt a renewed sense of purpose in engaging with difficult topics, while others stressed the importance of safety and mental health in campus life. The university indicated that the Friday vigil would be a community-centered event, inviting students, faculty, and local residents to honor Kirk’s life and to reaffirm commitments to civil discourse and peaceful engagement. The vigil is expected to feature readings, moments of silence, and opportunities for people to share their experiences in a controlled, supportive environment.

The investigation into Kirk’s death and Robinson’s alleged involvement continues, and authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and to rely on official statements for details about charges and evidence. In the meantime, UVU’s reopening has highlighted the tension between free expression and the real-world risks that can accompany political controversy, a tension that campuses across the country have faced in recent years.

As UVU moves forward, administrators and students aim to balance the memory of Kirk with a renewed focus on campus safety and student well-being. The university has reaffirmed its commitment to providing mental health resources and academic support to students navigating grief and fear while continuing to offer a space for robust, constructive dialogue. The events of the past week have prompted continued dialogue about safety measures on campus, protocols for public figures visiting university spaces, and the importance of safeguarding a learning environment where people can express diverse viewpoints without fear of violence.