(Picture credits NU YikYak)
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) attracted plenty of attention Tuesday when it brought its “Pick Up the Mic” series to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, featuring Christian preacher and conservative internet personality Shane Winnings.
Following the high-profile assassination of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, the influential campus organization pledged to carry on his commitment to open dialogue, with well over 50 right-wing media figures and content creators participating in the initiative.
The event came just twelve days after the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s murder during a public event at the Utah Valley University Campus. While TPUSA used the anniversary to remember Kirk — the local chapter gave out “Freedom” shirts on UNL’s campus — some people “celebrated” the first “kirkiversary.” UNL’s campus featured posters and anonymous messages on student forums mocking Kirk’s death and organization.
On Tuesday, pictures emerged across social media of multiple armed security officers, including an officer equipped with a sniper rifle stationed atop a campus roof ahead of Winnings’ event. UNL did not comment on whether the increased security was related to the anonymous celebrations of Kirk’s murder.
“Due to tragic event in the past at outdoor events on college campuses, it is necessary to plan for all scenarios,” a UNL spokesperson told The Plains Sentinel. “Our priority is always the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and any member of the campus community.”
UNL stated that some security measures were taken at Winnings’ request, with UNLPD cooperating with Winnings’ security team and outside law enforcement agencies, among which was the Lincoln Police Department (LPD). Erika Thomas, the spokeswoman for the department, confirmed LPD was present with a SWAT detail to assist the University with its security efforts.
Reactions varied across social media, with some lamenting that such measures were necessary to hold a forum for open dialogue and others questioning if they were needed and whether taxpayers were footing the bill.
UNL confirmed that TPUSA’s chapter was assessed an additional fee in accordance with university policy for events requiring security and law enforcement.
Charlie Kirk is Touchiest Topic on Campus
The controversy over heightened security in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder is not, however, an unforeseen one. On September 9, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) released its 2027 college rankings for free speech. According to their polling of UNL students, Charlie Kirk is the single touchiest topic for public dialogue.
Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they found it difficult to have open and honest conversations about Kirk, the highest percentage for any topic – with other topics including President Trump, racial inequality, abortion, transgender rights, immigration, and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
And FIRE’s poll withstands scrutiny: among 392 students sampled, respondents spanned a plethora of religious and class backgrounds, matching the UNL demographic makeup of 75% white and evenly split between men and women. Furthermore, 47% identified themselves as slightly to very liberal, 29% as slightly to very conservative, and 24% as middle of the road, other, or unsure.
The study also reflected general political trends: Women and LGBTQ students skewed left, men skewed right. Liberal-identified students were more racially diverse, while almost all conservative-identified students commonly attended religious services.
Questions examined six key areas of a free speech environment: administrative support, comfort expressing ideas, self-censorship, disruptive behavior, political tolerance, and openness.
Two hundred and sixty-one colleges and universities appeared in FIRE’s rankings based on this student polling, analysis of school policies, and recorded free speech incidents on campus. UNL posted a rank of 102, with an overall grade of 62.2 out of 100 possible points. Criteria, however, is strict — the #1 college for free speech in 2027, the University of Chicago, scored only 81 points.
Despite posting its highest score ever by FIRE’s metrics, UNL moved down 28 spots overall.
UNL Students Favor Banning Speakers
To measure political tolerance, students were given three controversial opinions from both sides of the aisle and asked if the university should or should not allow a speaker who had expressed such an opinion at some point – whether or not it was at issue in their event.
A majority of respondents said a speaker probably or definitely should not be allowed if they had endorsed the idea that police are as racist as the Ku Klux Klan, that the Catholic Church is a pedophilic institution, that Black Lives Matter is a hate group, or that transgender people suffer a mental disorder – which would evidently disqualify Winnings.
Respondents split 50/50 on barring someone who believed that children should be able to undergo gender transition without parental consent, and 49/51 on someone who believed that abortion should be banned entirely.
Despite students’ favorability toward banning controversial speakers, UNL ranked #33 for political tolerance – a rank which is likely to improve based on the University’s willingness to both allow and protect a speaker like Winnings.
UNL posted its second-highest mark in disruptive conduct, with no recorded free speech incidents and a general distaste among students for verbal or physical obstruction of speakers and attendees – with or without violent intent. Liberals were far more favorable to banning speakers who expressed controversial opinions, while conservatives were more favorable to firing faculty who did likewise.
The university’s lowest ranks came in self-censorship and openness, meaning its students are very uncomfortable speaking on politically relevant topics. Only 6% of UNL students said they have never had to censor themselves in the classroom or when talking to a professor.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln declined to comment on its FIRE ranking at this time.
— Lewis Thune is a College Fix writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.