Provo, Utah – Utah Valley University announced that the campus will be closed on Sept. 10, the one‑year anniversary of the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The decision comes as the university’s new president, Dr. Jon Anderson, emphasizes the importance of free speech and civil discourse on campus.
New leadership with personal ties to the tragedy
Dr. Anderson, who arrived at UVU just before the start of the fall 2026 semester, previously served as president of Pennsylvania Western University when the assassination occurred on Sept. 10, 2025. He disclosed that his own daughters were within ten yards of the incident, underscoring how the event has become a personal and institutional touchstone.
“I knew our future would be tied to it in one way or another,” Anderson said in a sit‑down interview with Fox News Digital. “When the opportunity came up to come home – this is the place that I’m from – and help this institution move forward and heal, I leaned into it immediately.”
Campus closure and memorial plans
UVU will close all classes and operations on the anniversary date to allow students, faculty, and staff time to reflect and heal. While the university will not host an official ceremony, Turning Point USA plans to hold its own memorial at the UCCU Center at 6:30 p.m. MT.
Anderson expressed support for the student‑led event, saying, “We want people to have their own space to heal in their own way, and we are supportive and reflective of that.”
Future permanent memorial under discussion
University officials, including board members and student representatives, are currently evaluating proposals for a permanent memorial. Anderson noted that many voices are being heard and that any future installation will be “thoughtfully done and well placed,” though no timeline has been set.
Commitment to open dialogue
Anderson stressed that UVU remains a politically neutral, apolitical public institution, yet it will continue to “host the frays” by providing a venue for varied viewpoints. “We allow people to come in and focus on civil dialogue, engaging in new and good ideas,” he said. “A place that anyone can come with any idea, have a place for open, honest, violence‑free debate, and that’s what our future is, and that is what institutions of higher education are, when they are at their best.”
Legal proceedings for the alleged shooter
Kirk’s suspected assassin, 23‑year‑old Tyler Robinson, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Sept. 1 and is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 23. He faces a possible death‑penalty charge of aggravated murder.
Kirk, 31, was married with two children at the time of his death.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
