A Message from the President: Killing of Charlie Kirk

UW Community:

Today, we've learned that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University, about a six-hour drive from our campus. A little over four months ago, Mr. Kirk spoke on our campus to a large crowd in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium, invited by UW's student chapter of Turning Point USA.

We join people everywhere in expressing disgust, outrage and sadness at this apparent politically motivated attack. And we join many in sharing our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and supporters.

In the midst of this tragedy, it is important that we reaffirm the right of all to express their views freely, especially on college campuses, as Mr. Kirk did recently at UW. Political violence is never warranted, and we reaffirm our commitment to freedom of expression and respectful discourse on our campus -- and the institutional neutrality that is needed to support it.

We recognize that many on our campus are deeply affected by today's events. For those who are impacted, here are some UW resources to support:

The Employee Assistance Program offers UW employees and their families access to a variety of support services, including counseling.

The University Counseling Center, the UW Psychology Center and Wellspring Counseling Clinic provide free counseling services to students.

Let's come together to support and protect our community in the face of such a terrible event not far from our state's border.

Sincerely,

Ed Seidel, President