Colleges Needed Charlie Kirk: What Students MUST Take Away From His Legacy | Megan Malafronte

College campuses needed Charlie Kirk.

Students needed a debate forum, and the platform Kirk created with Turning Point USA allowed them to exercise free speech, to ask tough questions, to tap into a different point of view and to understand why these discussions needed to be had in a civilized and rational way. 

The undergraduate age bracket represents a critical time period in the development of voice, mind and identity, and it’s imperative students are provided with resources on both sides of the spectrum to diversify their perspective and educate themselves on issues they believe in.

Charlie allowed the Left to dispute him. He wasn’t afraid of the backlash, the name-calling, the hatred or the disapproval. He could back up his claims with research. He pissed people off. He made people think. He tripped people up. He stood his ground. Charlie Kirk was doing what a lot of political figures didn’t have the live debating skill and/or finesse to do. He was informed and well-versed on controversial issues and this infuriated those who didn’t align with him. Whether or not you agreed with him or identified with his beliefs, the guy was making a difference in the way students approached political discourse.

(Photo: Eilish O’Sullivan, 2018)

Charlie Kirk Was A Voice Of Reason

Whichever way you lean, it’s hard to deny the level of hostility (and in many cases, pure hatred) some liberals have for anyone who disagrees with their way of thinking. Charlie attempted to take back the misguided and dangerous narrative that a conservative viewpoint is one to be condemned. 

Most left-wingers are resolute in the perpetuated rhetoric that Trump is running an authoritarian regime and any person who supports him or any seemingly conservative value, is a "Nazi-fascist-white supremacist-racist-bigot." Liberal arguments have an array of flare to them. There are the ones that sound like some pretentious, all-knowing Harvard dissertation on what democracy means, and there are ones that mock the sh*t out of every word Donald Trump has ever said to create late-night, trying-too-hard comedy bits. Then there are just the angry, harassment-level nonsensical ones that feel emotional and weird. Regardless of the issue, the attitude, and the anger - Charlie Kirk took any and every question and never backed down.

All political parties deserve a voice. And while Democrats have held the mic in mainstream media for the last 10+ years, it’s time to even the playing field. 

There are so few individuals in the Millennial and Gen-Z demographic that have been able to successfully speak for the Republican Party. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, something must change. It’s a call to action for all American citizens, but especially those in the 18-to-35-year age group.

"The way to respond to a loss like this it to be bigger, braver, more courageous, stronger than you ever thought you were and trust me: you have that ability," said OutKick's Clay Travis.

Some bi-partisan advice:

1. You are allowed to disagree on political issues WITHOUT having to hate one another.

2. Unapologetically exercise your right to the First Amendment.

3. Educate yourself. Don’t take things at face value. Do the research.

Turning Point’s American Comeback Tour kicked off on September 10 and in my opinion, the tour must go on.

Every date should be honored by every participating campus so these conversations can continue.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - 2025/05/01: Hundreds of people gather at Town Square in UC San Diego while Charlie Kirk sits in the middle of the plaza. Turning Point USA founder and American conservative political activist, Charlie Kirk sets up in UC San Diego's Town Square fielding rapid-fire questions from students and community members in a signature "change-my-mind"-style forum, while campus police and private security ring the perimeter to keep the busy plaza orderly. (Photo by Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Remaining American Comeback Tour Dates can be found here. 

As for the college campus responses we’ve been seeing thus far: Universities around the country have been holding prayer vigils to honor Charlie’s legacy: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA), Penn State University, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, NC State, Michigan State University, University of Tennessee, Florida Atlantic University, Virginia Tech, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Students at the University of Missouri are paying tribute to Kirk and are standing in solidarity with him, "to show support for freedom of speech and freedom of expression." said Phi Kappa Psi member Jaeden Smith, who hung a banner outside of his fraternity house.

(Photo: Annie George, Missourian)

Kirk Regularly Hosted Events At College Campuses

Paige Schulte, president of Mizzou’s chapter of Turning Point USA, believes that Kirk’s influence on Gen-Z was the reason President Trump won the 2024 election.

Chris Heavey, the UNLV Interim President, gave a statement on Wednesday: "Today’s tragedy could have long-term consequences for everyone wanting to engage in a peaceful and vigorous debate on college campuses," Heavey wrote. "Let us all join together in doing everything possible to denounce violence and protect free speech and debate. It is the bedrock of our democracy."

If there’s any message to take away from the death of Charlie Kirk, it’s this: WE CAN CO-EXIST WITHOUT HATRED.

On college campuses. On networks. In mainstream media. At dinner parties.

(Photo: Maring Photography/Getty Images, 2005)

College campuses now need people like Charlie. Kirk more than ever. Every person is entitled to his or her opinion. It is the beauty of freedom which is the basis of what this country was founded upon. The hatred must stop. It’s costing people their lives.

Megan Malafronte is an associate producer at OutKick.