Utah Valley University Gets an ‘F’ for Choosing Charlie Kirk Critic as Commencement Speaker

Utah Valley University (UVU) where TPUSA leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated last September has found itself in the middle of a controversy of its own making. The controversy began when the university announced that their commencement speaker would be Sharon McMahon who is often referred to as “America’s Government Teacher,” and a Kirk critic.

Kirk who was an outspoken conservative and supporter of President Trump was assassinated while speaking to a large group of students and supporters at UVU.

Two days after Kirk’s death McMahon posted parts of quotes from Kirk about Blacks and Muslims, adding “Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done. … But if you were a Charlie Kirk fan, you might not realize why there is so much backlash to posts eulogizing his death.”

Other comments from McMahon have also outraged conservatives who found her selection tone deaf.

“To many Americans, especially if you are Black, LGBTQ or Muslim, Charlie Kirk was not a person who simply engaged in good-faith debates on college campuses,” adding, “It’s important to remember that the incredible tragedy of a public assassination does not erase the harm many experienced from his words and the ensuing actions his followers took.”

McMahon defended her comments in a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune, through a spokesperson stating that she “unequivocally condemned the murder of Charlie Kirk, repeatedly and publicly calling his death a tragedy and stressing that public debate must never be met with violence.”

Outgoing UVU president Astrid Tuminez said in a statement issued by UVU announcing McMahon’s selection

Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good. As a former history teacher, she understands that education can inform, inspire, and instigate courageous action, adding “Sharon’s work reminds us of the power we each hold, and that every individual is mighty in some way. She underlines how each of us can contribute to a vibrant democracy and how strength comes from knowledge, kindness, and collective action. I think our graduates are very lucky to have her as commencement speaker!”

It hasn’t even been a year since the tragic day that Kirk was assassinated which shook the university, the surrounding community and the world at large who were shocked at the brazen nature of his death. Many people are still healing, but that seems to have gone unnoticed by Tuminez and her staff and is a black eye on a fast-growing school.