In the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk鈥檚 assassination at Utah Valley University last Wednesday, Ohio college students who put on political events say they are rattled鈥攁nd rethinking some logistics.
Kirk, who was 31, founded Turning Point USA, which pushes for conservative politics at high schools and colleges. Federal and state officials allege he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was arrested Thursday and charged Tuesday.
Jonah Hendershot, a Miami University senior majoring in sales management, is chief-of-staff of the Miami College Republicans and chairman of the Butler County Young Republicans.
鈥淓ven though it wouldn鈥檛 have been my fault, it would have felt like it was my fault,鈥� Hendershot said in an interview Monday. 鈥淲hen I was talking to my friends, they were like, you probably can鈥檛 have another political event outside, ever again.鈥�
Kirk鈥檚 killing shocked and angered him, he said, like a large swath of Americans.
More than a thousand Ohioans crammed into Coffman Park in Dublin on Sunday for a candlelight vigil honoring Kirk, mirroring others across the country. It was organized by the Ohio College Republican Federation.
Candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost were among those at the vigil鈥攚hich at times felt like a memorial, and at times a rally.
Ramaswamy, a friend of Kirk鈥檚, took the stage after the sunset as candles were being lit.
鈥淐harlie鈥檚 death changed me, and just because you have the right to say something, does not always automatically make it right to say, either,鈥� Ramaswamy said.
The night consisted mostly of peaceful remarks, prayer and songs. But briefly, when Ramaswamy took center stage, a protestor in the park shouted at him. 鈥淕et him out,鈥� another person in the audience said.
When the Miami College Republicans hosted conservative commentator Ben Shapiro last fall, they were ready for demonstrations against Shapiro, although nothing major materialized. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 anything crazy,鈥� Hendershot said.
The event was held at an indoor venue with metal detectors and police present, which he said will be how they continue to hold events.
Jakob Burdick, a senior political science major at the University of Dayton and the Greater Dayton Young Democrats vice president, said the Dayton College Democrats have mostly hosted candidates running for state and local offices in the last year.
鈥淭here is a box to check on whether or not we need security at the event,鈥� Burdick said in an interview Monday. 鈥淣ever once did I ever think I would need security at an event such as that. Now? I don鈥檛 know.鈥�
Burdick disagreed with almost everything Kirk had to say, he said, but similarly felt shocked last week. He counts members of the Dayton College Republicans among his friends.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really handle conversations like I鈥檓 going to change their mind, but I want to know why they think that way,鈥� he said.
After canceling an annual debate last year, Hendershot said the Miami College Republicans are working to mend fences with the Miami College Democrats.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a guy who I was just talking to the other day on their board about Charlie Kirk鈥檚 assassination,鈥� Hendershot said. 鈥淭hey gave a really good statement ... and I just wanted to thank him for doing that.鈥�
Both said they still feel strongly about continuing to give political figures a platform at their schools.
Backers of the extensive law overhauling programs and practices at public schools, Senate Bill 1, have said it aims to ensure that. SB 1 overhauls diversity programs and practices at Ohio public universities.
It gets rid of most mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion鈥攃olloquially, DEI鈥攖raining at public universities and colleges, requires so-called 鈥渋ntellectual diversity鈥� on certain subjects, and slashes university trustee terms. It also requires institutions give platforms to 鈥渄iverse ideological and political views.鈥�
