OREM — One year after conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, significant efforts to review and improve campus safety remain ongoing, according to university officials and state lawmakers.
Following the shooting last year, UVU commissioned an independent security review, while the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) launched a task force to scrutinize campus safety across the state's public colleges. Additionally, Utah lawmakers began exploring potential changes they could mandate to prevent similar tragedies. A year on, none of this work is fully completed, though some aspects are nearing their conclusion.
UVU expects to release the findings of its independent review within approximately a month, a university spokesperson stated on Thursday. A specific release date has not yet been set. Sharon Turner, senior director of communications for the university, noted that while the report was initially anticipated in late spring, that timeline had been tentative. Turner expressed the university's hope for a path forward that enhances existing methods, adding that there is always room for improvement, which she described as beneficial to students, who are the most important part of the university's mission.
The shooting occurred during an outdoor speaking event attended by around 3,000 people, where Kirk was shot while answering a question. The incident prompted attendees to flee for cover and initiated a manhunt for the suspected shooter that spanned nearly a day and a half. Last week, a judge ordered 23-year-old Tyler Robinson to stand trial for aggravated murder in Kirk’s death. Robinson, who is accused of using his grandfather’s hunting rifle to shoot Kirk from a campus rooftop, has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
On Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the shooting, UVU did not hold classes. Governor Spencer Cox officially declared it Charlie Kirk Day statewide. Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk co-founded, held a memorial event Thursday evening at an arena on the UVU campus, which the group rented for the occasion.
Before last year’s incident, much of the campus safety discussion in Utah centered on sexual assault among students. The killing of University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey in 2018 then shifted focus to intimate partner violence and stalking. Kirk’s death, seven years later, highlighted the critical need for robust safety planning for large campus events. Experts had previously criticized the light security for Kirk's appearance, which involved six UVU officers and no assistance from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Separate from UVU's commissioned review, the Utah System of Higher Education initiated its own task force last year to study campus safety statewide. This group is evaluating security protocols across Utah’s eight public colleges and universities with the goal of recommending a standardized set of guidelines for these institutions. However, a spokesperson for USHE indicated there is currently no timeline for when the task force’s findings will be made public.
These forthcoming recommendations are expected to inform parts of a comprehensive school safety proposal that Rep. Ryan Wilcox, a Republican from Ogden and chair of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, plans to sponsor in the next legislative session, which convenes in January. Wilcox stated he would not disclose details of his bill until the USHE task force releases its report, which he anticipates by the end of this year.
Under a 2024 state law, K-12 schools in Utah are required to conduct safety assessments every three years. Wilcox had previously proposed a similar requirement for colleges the following year, but that component was rejected by the state Senate in early 2025, before Kirk's death. While Wilcox considered reintroducing his push for college safety assessments this year, he instead chose to coordinate with the Utah System of Higher Education to enhance security measures and event planning at colleges. Wilcox emphasized that neither USHE nor lawmakers are neglecting the issue, stating, “We’re still wide awake and watching, and involved in those conversations.”
