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After the assassination of the founder of Turning Point Ause Charlie Kirk At a Utah campus event Wednesday, conservative students at Boston University (BU) called on university leaders to protect them from violence or intimidation.
Philip Wohltorf, the Republican vice president of the Bub College, who also serves as legislative aide in the Massachusetts Senate, told The Massachusetts Vice President Philip Wohltorf, told The Massachusetts Senate Fox News Numbers Kirk’s death shakes the conservative students.
“College should be a market for ideas. If speakers or conservatives now have to worry about being shot or facing violence, then that market will be closed.”
The group sent a letter to BU President Melissa Gilliam on Thursday asking the university to declare responsible students promoting violence following the tragedy and provide “proper security” for the upcoming university Republican event. The letter also accuses universities of fostering a culture where conservative students feel they are scared of their views.
Students from Massachusetts, Harvard University and other gatherings were at a protest camp at the Kresge Lawn of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 22, 2024. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
“At BU, conservative students have long been marginalized, silent for fear of social intimidation, academic punishment or hostility,” the students wrote. “Universities do not cultivate intellectual diversity, but allow a single ideological perspective to dominate and isolate students with dissent.”
Voltov said he was frustrated to see comments from students on social media forums such as Reddit and Yik Yak celebrating Kirk’s death, calling the posts “disgusting.”
“We may disagree with each other, but at the end of the day, we should talk rather than shoot people or engage in violence,” he said.
The club recently started promoting its meeting time and is now worried that openness will be a target.
“We want to make sure this keeps a safe space for our members,” Voltov said, adding that some students have already asked for safety at the next meeting.
The Republican vice president of the Bubu College said that if conservatives fear violence or intimidation speak out, universities may lose their role as a market for ideas. (iStock)
Despite the fear, the group felt compelled to continue Kirk’s freedom of speech and debate, Voltov said. In the past 24 hours, he said several new students have signed a mailing list for the college Republicans and promised to attend the next meeting.
Voltov said his university reflects a wider “diversity of thought issues” in higher education. He pointed A 2023 survey People from Harvard Crimson found that 3% of Harvard professors in the Department of Arts and Sciences were considered conservative, while more than 75% were considered liberal. In the 2025 annual survey, the number of teachers identified by conservatives rose to 9%.
He said universities should be committed to hiring more conservative professors and encourage open dialogue among students with different perspectives.
Woltov said the attempt to spark debate on campus has been silent, saying he repeatedly held debates with left-leaning student groups, but has been ignored.
Flashback: Charlie Kirk warns left ‘assassination culture’ months before murder
Despite concerns, student leaders vow to continue the legacy of freedom of debate and speech on campus by American founder Charlie Kirk. (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters)
Kirk Welcome to debate And challenge the concept of freedom and orthodoxy on university campuses. He just started his “American comeback” in the United States on September 10 at the University of Utah, Utah, at Orem University, when he was fatally shot by a gunman.
Voltoff said Kirk left a legacy for conservative students to follow.
“We are obliged to continue Charlie Kirk’s mission and legacy because he represents freedom of speechFirst Amendment, and challenge each other on campus through debate and ideas. ” Voltov said.
A spokesman said Gilliam plans to address the letter, noting that BU’s policy welcomes all students to express their political beliefs and have a healthy conversation.
“We strive to promote civic discourse among the BU community. As you know, over the years, we have had world leaders, controversial speakers and more and more and we have taken all the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our guests and the BU community. We will continue to work with appropriate local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and our judiciary and our rulers and our rulers and our hearts and our hearts and our hearts and our hearts. A spokesperson added in a statement on Fox News Digital Numbers.
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