Roughly half of all college students say Charlie Kirk 'difficult to discuss' on campus: survey
Abortion, religion round out top 10 in latest FIRE rankings
The life and work of Christian political activist Charlie Kirk is cited as one of several topics college students are too afraid to discuss on campus, according to one civil liberties group that has long documented the “dismal climate” for free speech on U.S. college campuses.
In its 2027 College Free Speech Rankings, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) lists the co-founder of Turning Point USA among a handful of topics that nearly half of all college students nationwide identified as a “difficult” topic to discuss on campus.
In its rankings of 261 colleges and universities based on responses from nearly 63,000 students on a number of free speech-related questions, over half of students at 61 of the ranked schools said Kirk remains “difficult to discuss” among students on campus. Nine of those schools that punished faculty members for their views on Kirk’s assassination fell in the rankings, according to FIRE.
The survey also found that several academic institutions denied applications to launch chapters of TPUSA, the organization co-founded by Kirk in 2012 with businessman and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery. These chapters were “denied recognition or faced calls for their de-recognition as an official student organization” following Kirk’s assassination.
Despite the highest recorded average overall score in seven years, representatives with FIRE say that still amounts to an “unacceptable” D-minus on the report’s grading scale.
“At a tumultuous time for higher education, we are seeing some progress in campus free speech policies and indications that students may be less willing to tolerate 'shout-downs' and violence on campus compared to recent years,” FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff said in a statement.
He added, “But the overall state of free speech on campus is grim. Too many college administrators wield their power to cancel controversial speakers, cave to government or student calls for censorship, and limit academic freedom. This report emphasizes the need for colleges to embrace their constitutional obligations wholeheartedly.”
Of the topics students found most difficult to discuss, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took the top spot, followed by President Donald Trump and Kirk as the third-most “difficult” topic. Abortion ranked fourth, while religion also rounded out the top 10.
When it comes to Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot on Sept. 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was the most difficult topic to discuss on campus, according to 62% of UVU students compared to 44% of students nationally.
According to the report, Kirk’s assassination also led to “increased pressure from public officials to sanction faculty speech,” specifically in response to social media comments following his death. The report cited an online platform launched by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita in February 2024, which, despite its initial design to keep parents, students and educators connected on “what is being taught and promoted in schools,” instead drew “multiple” comments from college and university faculty members about Kirk’s assassination and political views.
In another example, the report highlighted action taken by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who called for the University of Alabama to fire several professors at its Huntsville and Tuscaloosa campuses for their comments about the Kirk shooting. The university later settled with at least one professor.
An Indiana university employee who was fired after stoking outrage over a Facebook post accusing Kirk of spreading hatred before his assassination was awarded $225,000 in May to settle a lawsuit against her former employer alleging violations of her First Amendment rights.
Suzanne Swierc, former director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, will receive the payout after suing over her termination last September, according to The Associated Press. Her firing came days after she posted a private Facebook comment that some interpreted as blaming Kirk for his own murder.
