American universities hold their breath after Kirk's murder

The United States is in turmoil after a young Republican activist, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead during a panel on the campus of Utah Valley University. A 22-year-old man named Tyler Robinson was arrested on Friday on suspicion of Kirk's murder.

Kirk was notorious in American higher education. He advised young people not to go to university and even called university education a form of fraud. He believed that universities are too liberal and progressive, suppressing dissenting opinions.

Prove me wrong
Nevertheless, he enjoyed visiting campuses to debate with students under the motto “prove me wrong”. He posted videos on social media in which he engaged in heated quarrels with progressive students. His student organisation, Turning Point USA, also ran a website that sought to “expose” radical university lecturers.

Kirk was friends with US President Donald Trump and was one of the speakers at his inauguration. Trump has launched an attack on academic freedom and progressive ideas since taking office. He has been fiercely opposing pro-Palestinian protests at universities.

Kirk criticised everything that seemed progressive, from the right to abortion to diversity policies. According to his book Campus Battleground, Americans are engaged in a war for the “soul” of their country. He also spread misinformation about topics such as the death of George Floyd: in his view, Floyd did not die as a result of police violence, but rather from an overdose.

Blame
Kirk's murder may have consequences for freedom of speech at universities, according to various articles published by American news outlets. It is hard to argue that universities are a safe space for conservative activists when one of them has just been shot dead.

But who is to blame? Universities have already fired people and expelled students who stated on social media that Kirk brought the attack upon himself.

Trump, who survived a similar attack last year, has announced that he will crack down on radical left-wing organisations that he believes encourage violence. However, he portrays violence perpetrated by his own supporters, such as the storming of the Capitol, in a different light.

It is possible that universities will become more cautious after this murder and prefer to ban controversial speakers on campus, which would be detrimental to free debate, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, the news site InsideHigherEd notes that some teachers may fear that Kirk's followers will take revenge for his assassination and that they could be the next to be shot.

The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, emotions are running less high. According to EW magazine, this is due to the country having a narrower notion of freedom of speech. Speakers like Kirk would never be welcome at Dutch universities, and even those who are allowed to come are sometimes prevented from speaking. EW Magazine mention a few examples of disrupted meetings, such as when the Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, attempted to speak at the University of Amsterdam.

The vast majority of reactions in the Netherlands, from left to right, pleaded for non-violence and freedom of speech, though radical voices are also present here. Broadcaster POW tracked down students who do not mourn the murder at all or even cheer Kirk's death. A secondary school teacher also came under scrutiny as a result.