On September 16, 2025, the New College of Florida in Sarasota made waves with its announcement: a statue honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, will soon grace its campus. The tribute comes just days after Kirk was fatally shot at age 31 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah—a tragedy that has sent ripples through political, academic, and activist circles nationwide.
According to CBS12, the college revealed that the statue will be privately funded by community leaders and donors, with the specific location to be disclosed in the coming months. The decision, said New College President Richard Corcoran, is meant to serve as a testament to the school’s commitment to free speech and civil discourse—values that Kirk championed throughout his career. “Charlie Kirk knew that universities are ground zero for free speech and the marketplace of ideas. These ideas are not luxuries, but the foundation of a free republic,” Corcoran stated. “His life and tragic death remind us all that a nation cannot survive if it abandons these rights. At New College, we will not step back from this responsibility—we will champion it and seek to be known as the number one college in the nation when it comes to supporting civil debate and freedom of speech.”
The statue itself, as described by Fox News Digital, will be a bronze depiction of Kirk sitting at a four-legged table with two open chairs, holding a microphone. The design is inspired by Kirk’s signature Turning Point USA campus events, where he would invite students to engage in open, sometimes tough, but always civil debate. William Witt, the college’s Chief Social Media Officer, emphasized the symbolism: “Having conversations that might be difficult, but that are worth it. Where the best idea wins. [Conversations] that are civil, and people actually coming together.”
Kirk’s sudden death on September 10, 2025, stunned many. He was shot while in the middle of a public debate at Utah Valley University. Police arrested 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson as a suspect in the shooting, as reported by the Miami Herald. The incident has sparked renewed debate about the safety of public figures and the state of political discourse in America. Kirk, a husband and father of two, was known for urging young people to fight for their ideas and to avoid silencing those with whom they disagreed. As he once remarked, “One of the most horrifying and surprising evolutions we have witnessed among our widespread campus network is the rapid movement away from tolerating opposing ideas and respectful debate to the deployment of obscene bully tactics from the left.”
The announcement of the statue has not been universally embraced, but Witt noted that the majority of students have expressed pride in the school’s decision. “We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of people who have come and said, ‘I want to support and I want to donate to actually make this a reality,’” Witt said. “Just a huge outpouring of people. … We’re absolutely thrilled that we’re able to do this, and we wish Charlie could have come to our campus while he was still living. We want to do our best to honor his memory, his legacy and everything that he represented.”
Jackson Dawson, president of the New College chapter of Turning Point USA, echoed this sentiment. “Charlie Kirk inspired me to lead our Turning Point chapter at New College,” Dawson said. “Meeting him affirmed my commitment to champion free speech and open dialogue. Our chapter is honored to help the effort to establish a tribute statue on campus. We want to raise awareness, help secure support, and ensure that future generations inherit a legacy of open dialogue and the courage to speak freely.”
New College’s Board of Trustees Chair, Debra Jenks, emphasized the institution’s long-standing dedication to the free exchange of ideas. “Since its founding in 1960, New College has stood as a place where the free exchange of ideas is not only protected but celebrated,” Jenks said. “This statue will serve as a reminder of that history and our responsibility to carry it forward. Public discourse is not optional in a free society—it is essential.”
The statue’s unveiling is expected by the end of 2025, with the college promising to announce its precise campus location in the coming months. Security protocols are being discussed, and the college has made it clear that vandalism or defacement will be met with strict disciplinary action. Governor Ron DeSantis, in a post on X, voiced his support for the statue and warned, “If a student defaces the statue, then the student will be sent packing. Go ahead, make my day!”
The college’s commitment to free speech isn’t stopping at the statue. On September 23, 2025, New College will host a discussion on media bias at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion, featuring conservative speakers such as physician Scott Atlas, broadcaster Chanel Rion, radio host Ben Domenech, and The Federalist editor Mollie Hemingway. The event is part of the institution’s new “Socratic Stage” series, which aims to foster public discourse and debates on pressing issues.
While Kirk was not a Sarasota native, he did own a vacation condo on Longboat Key, purchased in 2019 for $855,000. His ties to the area, though not deep-rooted, have nonetheless provided a local connection that many in the community have rallied around. The college has not released details about the statue’s cost, the artist selection process, or the full list of donors, as reported by Sarasota Magazine.
Kirk’s legacy, however, extends far beyond Sarasota. In the wake of his death, a group of 16 congressional Republicans—including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert—petitioned for a monument to be erected in the U.S. Capitol to honor Kirk. “This is not a symbolic gesture, but a permanent testament to his life’s work, his courage, and his sacrifice,” the group wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson. “It will stand as a reminder that political disagreement must never be answered with violence, and that the fight for truth must carry on.” There are also petitions circulating for a statue at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was killed, though the university has not yet commented publicly on any such plans.
For those wishing to pay their respects, a public memorial service for Kirk is scheduled for September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, according to Turning Point USA. The event is expected to draw a large crowd, though as of September 16, there was no mention of a livestream for those unable to attend in person.
As the New College of Florida moves forward with its plans, the statue of Charlie Kirk stands to become more than just a memorial—it promises to be a focal point for ongoing debate about the meaning of free speech, the cost of political activism, and the ways in which universities shape the national conversation. Whether one sees it as a bold stand for the First Amendment or a controversial gesture, the college’s commitment to “the marketplace of ideas” has rarely felt more relevant—or more fiercely debated.
