Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, some MTSU students have been considering the future of debates on college campuses.
In recent years, Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative influencer and CEO of Turning Point USA, popularized “Prove Me Wrong” style debates, encouraging more informal, on-the-spot political conversations across the nation.
On Sept. 10, 2025, Tyler Robinson allegedly shot and killed Kirk during a public debate at Utah Valley University.
MTSU hosts a wide variety of political groups, like No Labels and MTSU’s Turning Point USA chapter, that encourage student engagement across differing political views.
No Labels president Fatima Macareno created the club after witnessing a rise in political division and violence. The club encourages students to exercise their freedom of speech and engage in meaningful discussions across political lines.
“I believe there will be more debates following his death, especially across the country and across college campuses,” Macareno said. “[When] Joshua Haymes was debating on campus, things got out of control really easily…So yes, there will be more debates post-Charlie Kirk, and unfortunately, more political violence that comes with it.”
Haymes, a pastor and conservative podcaster, made several appearances at MTSU, debating topics including abortion, pornography and transgender ideology. The events drew hundreds of students from different political backgrounds.
Macareno witnessed a surge in attendance at these debates and suggested implementing protocols to prevent political violence on campus.
“MTSU should increase the number of campus officers, especially in the presence of any political meeting, to ensure that nobody gets hurt,” Macareno said.
No Labels member Kenzie Davis had similar thoughts, highlighting the struggles students can face when debate-focused organizations host events on campus.
“It will fuel a lot of debates and probably add a bit more tension for those who disagree with what they have to say,” Davis said. “We should be able to have these conversations. It is our country; it is our job as citizens to be able to have these conversations and listen to opposing ideas.”
Following Kirk’s assassination, some students were left confused, frustrated or concerned for safety, leaving room for discussion about threat assessments and crisis response protocols.
“Having that assassination happen on a campus puts into perspective how dangerous people can be,” Davis said. “Having a set plan and a set course of action for any possible case scenario is a good idea.”
Turning Point USA member Alex Otto noted that some conservative students may be hesitant to vocalize their opinions on campus. However, others will continue fighting for their political stance.
“It depends on the situation…” Otto said. “I think there are more people who want to speak up and say what they believe in…some people have found it within Turing Point USA or College Republicans, or even some people have even found it inside college ministries as well.”
Following Kirk’s death, some students have reassessed their political stances and how they engage with opposing viewpoints.
Otto noticed a rift between right-wing and left-wing students, as the assassination further divided those on campus with radical ideology.
“The extremes on both sides do alienate a lot of the people who believe they are more independent, or even the people that are not even interested in politics at all,” Otto said. “It creates all the stereotypes, everyone on the left is saying ‘see, it is MAGA and all that,’ and on the right it is ‘oh it is the left that does all this stuff.’”
Following Kirk’s death, some students are calling attention to the political violence our country has endured, urging communities to unite for a safer environment.
“Creating a bunch of political violence is actually what is contributing to the high stakes that [are] happening within both sides of the country,” Otto said. “It is helping create extremes on both sides to be pitted against each other. That should not be the case.”
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