HutchCC Students React to Charlie Kirk’s Murder

By Reyna Sanchez
Staff writer
Email: thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com

The death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has sparked reactions among college students, reflecting sharp political divides across campuses and the nation.

For some, Kirk’s murder represents the loss of a powerful voice for faith and conservatism. For others, it is a moment of the dangers of political polarization and raises questions about America’s gun culture.

Maddie Fales, a psychology major from Sterling, described the news as deeply personal and painful.

“For me, I was an avid supporter of him, so when I heard that he got shot initially, I was kind of dumbfounded. I didn’t believe it,” Fales said. “And then when I heard that he died, it took me a while to believe it. I think I was honestly not just faced with sadness, but faced with a little bit of depression for a few days. I honestly had to pray to God, like hardcore, for some spiritual help on that burden.”

Fales, who identifies as a conservative, said she believed Kirk’s influence extended far past politics.

“He was definitely a man of God, definitely a family man,” she said. “I think he was a man for America, and no one’s perfect. I’m not putting him on a pedestal, but he tried his best. I do believe he’s in heaven now.”

For Fales, mourning over Kirk’s death is because of his impact on young conservatives and the church. She added that she doesn’t believe anyone’s death should be celebrated.

“As a person, yes, he should be celebrated but he shouldn’t be celebrated because of the way he died,” Fales said. “No matter if I agreed with him or not politically or spiritually, I don’t think that he should have died the way he did.”

On the other side of the spectrum, freshman anthropology major Lidia Alfonso admitted Kirk’s death had little personal impact on her, but she said it brought larger issues into sharper focus.

“Personally, Charlie’s death didn’t really affect me mainly because I never agreed with anything that Charlie Kirk says,” Alfonso said. “But I think it affected me in a way that made me realize we should have stricter gun laws in place. People always say having guns is a God-given right, when it’s really not. Charlie Kirk’s death kind of signifies that we shouldn’t really praise guns to be what they are.”

Alfonso also rejected the celebrations of Kirk’s death circulating online, though she was critical of how he has been elevated since his passing“I don’t think that we should celebrate it, first of all, because that guy was a father, he had kids, he had a family,” she said. “But I also don’t agree with people comparing him to someone like Martin Luther King. To me, Charlie Kirk didn’t do anything other than argue with college students. Celebrating him as some kind of martyr is crazy.”

Both students, despite their sharp political differences, agreed on one point – death should not be celebrated.

“That’s just inhumane,” Alfonso said. “Regardless of what someone did, they’re still a human being with people who cared about them.”

As Kirk continues to gain millions of new followers, the debate surrounding his legacy rages on. For supporters like Fales, it is a chance to honor his work and faith. For critics like Alfonso, it is a reminder of the country’s deep divisions and an opportunity to push for change.

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