The University of North Texas (UNT) has found itself at the center of a heated national debate following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the subsequent reactions on campus. The fallout has drawn in state officials, ignited controversy over free speech and campus conduct, and shed light on the polarized climate gripping American universities.
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while answering questions at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. According to The Dallas Express and The Dallas Morning News, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder in connection to the killing. Authorities reported that Robinson held left-leaning beliefs and disliked Kirk, and anti-fascist messages were found engraved on the bullets used in the shooting.
Almost immediately after the news broke, reactions across the country were sharply divided. While many condemned the assassination and held prayer vigils to honor Kirk, a number of others—both online and in person—were seen celebrating his death. This polarization quickly found a flashpoint at UNT, where a video surfaced showing students watching footage of Kirk’s assassination in a classroom. Some students appeared to cheer and laugh at the video, a moment that was captured and posted to social media on September 10.
“Why are we cheering someone getting shot?” one student asked her classmates, confronting them about their reaction. According to the student’s later videos, the classroom atmosphere grew tense, with her being verbally attacked and screamed at by other students. She claimed that after confronting her peers, a professor suggested they “probably take this outside.” The student then went to the Dean of Students to seek an excused absence, but reported not receiving a response from the university. She also said that other students expressed fear of punishment from UNT for speaking out publicly about the incident.
As the controversy spread, a second incident occurred on September 18. A UNT student approached a Turning Point USA table on campus, gathered a stack of the group’s posters, and proceeded to tear them up and throw them on the ground, all while yelling insults. The moment was captured in a video posted by Republican state Rep. Andy Hopper of Decatur, which quickly amassed over 28,000 views. The student was heard shouting, “Go f*ck yourselves and burn in hell.” The absence of campus police at the scene, in light of recent events, was noted and criticized by Hopper.
The university’s response—or perceived lack thereof—became a focal point for state officials. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote to UNT President Harrison Keller on September 19, demanding answers about how the university was handling reports of misconduct. Paxton’s letter cited multiple violations of the student code of conduct, employee ethics policy, and free speech policy, and called for an expanded investigation that would include the professor accused of discriminatory conduct. “For too long, schools across the country have ignored complaints of misconduct against left-wing students,” Paxton wrote, adding, “This lack of disciplinary action has reinforced a principle that such conduct is appropriate and, in turn, has contributed to radicalizing individuals to engage in reprehensible actions.”
Several other North Texas lawmakers, including Mitch Little, Andy Hopper, Richard Hayes, and Ben Bumgarner, also sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging a broader investigation. Their letter highlighted the harassment and threats received by the student who recorded the classroom video and criticized the professor involved for allegedly promoting the LGBTQ agenda in class. According to The Dallas Morning News, the lawmakers expressed concerns that UNT’s response had been inadequate and called for greater accountability.
President Harrison Keller responded to the mounting pressure with a statement to The Dallas Express and The Dallas Morning News. “We take these and all allegations of misconduct by students or faculty very seriously. We expect UNT students and community members to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the values and policies of the university. We are currently conducting a thorough review of recent actions by a few of our community members. I am committed to ensuring UNT provides a safe learning and working environment for all of our UNT students and our community.”
This is not the first time UNT has faced controversy over political activism. In August 2025, communist propaganda was discovered on campus glorifying Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The Dallas branch of the Revolutionary Communists of America had reportedly recruited dozens of students in the weeks prior, raising further concerns about the campus climate.
The UNT incidents are part of a broader pattern of unrest at Texas universities following Kirk’s assassination. At Texas Tech University, a student was arrested and expelled after confronting people at a vigil for Kirk; she now faces a misdemeanor assault charge. At Texas State University, another student was expelled after mocking Kirk’s death at a campus vigil, spitting near memorial signs and cursing at attendees. The Texas Education Agency has reported investigating hundreds of complaints about teachers allegedly celebrating Kirk’s death, and some have been fired for making such comments online. The reverberations have even reached the national stage: comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show was pulled off the air following comments he made about the killing, after FCC chairman Brendan Carr pressured ABC to act.
Kirk, a polarizing figure, was well known as the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization advocating for conservatism on college campuses. He frequently generated controversy for his remarks on race, gun violence, women, and LGBTQ issues. In the spring before his death, Kirk had warned against what he called an emerging “assassination culture” on the left, blaming a protest environment that, in his view, had tolerated violence for too long.
The tensions at UNT have ignited a fierce debate about free speech, campus safety, and the responsibilities of university administrators. Critics argue that the university has not done enough to protect students who dissent from the prevailing campus culture, while others contend that UNT must safeguard free expression—even when it is deeply unpopular or offensive. The involvement of top state officials, including the attorney general and governor, has only heightened the stakes, with investigations ongoing and the campus community anxiously awaiting the outcome.
As the review continues, UNT and other Texas universities are being watched closely by both supporters and critics, each side eager to see how institutions will navigate the increasingly fraught intersection of politics, speech, and student conduct. For many, the events of September 2025 have become a litmus test for the future of discourse and safety on American campuses.