On Wednesday, Conservative Activist and Turning Point USA Founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk was a well-known conservative media personality who inspired many young people to exercise their right to vote and use their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
News of the shooting quickly spread all over, including amongst students on Grand Rapids Community College’s campus.
At the age of 18, Kirk began to forge his political path by challenging forward-thinking ideas, welcoming cultural tension, and making strong declarations, which won over many young college students.
The trusted ally of President Donald Trump was at Utah Valley University, hosting a public “Prove Me Wrong” event where he would answer questions and debate with whoever wanted to challenge his political and cultural views. The event started off like a normal Charlie Kirk event. A crowd of approximately 3,000 was chanting his name and waiting for his arrival. Very shortly after Kirk arrived, greeted, and threw some hats to his loyal supporters, he was shot in the neck. The shooting occurred at 2:23 p.m. and by 4:40 p.m. President Donald Trump announced his death via a post on Truth Social.
Once the shot was fired, college students in attendance were seen running frantically to find safety. Grand Rapids Community College students took notice of this horrific event and believe the school can take some action to ensure safety and care during such traumatic events.
Freshman student Henry Rossmiller, 18, of Rockford, wants to make sure students are able to freely communicate their emotions, and that events like these aren’t overlooked.
“Ensure that professors are able to provide support,” Rossmiller said. “Make sure that the mental impact and stress from social events and large violent happenings is not overshadowed by a school course load.”
The aftermath of events like the Kirk shooting has many people on edge, and negatively impacts students’ mental health. Compounding with the fact that this took place on a college campus, it has left GRCC students wanting more emphasis to be placed on student public safety and mental health.
“Making sure that student safety is important and that students’ mental health is being noticed,” Rossmiller said. “The continuation of this happening worries me. I hope that something will change. I worry about the fact this will be talked about for a week or two, and then it happens again somewhere else.”
One of Kirk’s controversial talking points has been about the Second Amendment, which declares Americans’ right to keep and bear arms. Kirk was a staunch supporter of this right, but with this recent tragedy, and many others that have taken place involving guns and schools, the ever-going conversation about change in our gun laws takes center stage.
Freshman GRCC student, Nolan Wordsmith, from Rockford, shares the same concern about people having access to such weapons.
“It definitely worries me a lot,” Wordsmith said. “Especially with the numbers and statistics of this type of thing happening at schools and colleges. Considering how it was on a campus and now I’m on a campus, too, it just makes me afraid of when it can happen. There’s definitely ways we can do something about it, but the worry is you just never know when it’s going to happen.”
Kirk was 31 years old when he was pronounced dead. According to CNN, Kirk’s shooting suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody at 10 p.m. Thursday.
Any GRCC students who need additional assistance following any traumatic event can visit the counseling office on the third floor of the Student Center. All counseling services are free for GRCC students.
