Campus life resumes at Utah Valley University a week following the tragic on-site murder of Charlie Kirk
In a shocking turn of events, Utah Valley University (UVU) has been left reeling after a prominent conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot at a campus event last week. The incident has left 19 people dead and at least 77 others injured across the US, and UVU has not been spared from the devastating impact of gun violence.
Nyasha Paradzai, a UVU junior, was lined up to debate Kirk at the event and witnessed the shooting. The experience has left Paradzai with 'countless reminders' and 'horrific images' that he is trying to get out of his head. Tiana Lao, another UVU student who was present at the event, has been experiencing visceral reactions when seeing graphic videos of the shooting.
The person formally charged for the murder of Kirk and additional crimes is Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old former student at Utah Valley University who confessed to the attack. The university community is still grappling with the aftermath, with many students expressing concerns about their safety and well-being.
UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez has stressed that faculty should be showing exceptional care to students in the wake of the shooting during a virtual town hall. Faculty have been discussing options to ease the burden for students impacted by the shooting, including delaying or canceling assignments, adjusting curriculum, offering online learning options, and more. The university has been 'relaxed' when it comes to accommodations for students, such as extensions on assignments, in light of the incident.
The university is working to restore the sense of peace on campus, including scheduling a 'Vigil for Unity' and offering counseling and support services. Erik Nystul, a UVU faculty member, returned to campus and found it difficult to cope with the location of the shooting being in his view. Nystul's office overlooks the courtyard where Kirk was killed, and he has memories of the courtyard as a peaceful place.
Lao has been struggling to think clearly since the shooting and is worried about her ability to focus when classes resume. She believes security could have been tighter on the day of Kirk's appearance and hopes the university will be ramping up safety measures. Lao returned to campus to fulfill media interview requests but struggled with shaking hands and a racing heart.
Before the tragedy, UVU was an open-admissions university with a welcoming attitude towards all students, guests, and ideas. However, the shooting incident has put the university on the national radar, raising questions about campus safety and the impact of gun violence on educational institutions.
The US has seen 47 school shootings this year, including 24 on college campuses. The shooting at UVU is a grim reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the country and the need for comprehensive solutions to prevent such tragedies. As the UVU community continues to grieve and heal, it is hoped that this incident will serve as a call to action for greater safety measures and a renewed commitment to ending gun violence.
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