Utah Valley University students returned to campus on Sept. 17, a week after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a campus event.
UVU classes were cancelled shortly after the shooting occurred. As students returned to campus, many stopped for a moment in the courtyard where Kirk was shot.
A giant flag was draped over the building directly behind where Kirk had stood. Security guards and local policemen also surrounded the area.
Students and faculty stood silently around the courtyard before heading to classes. While many quietly reflected, others were seen crying.
One reflective student, Brandon Smith, sat on a bench, looking at the green patch where Kirk had once stood. Smith was there during the shooting.
“I technically missed my class for this,” he said. “But I just kind of wanted to sit here and think.”
Most students noted the eerie energy on the university grounds. Sabrina Hatch, a UVU student, noted the emotional feeling of being back on campus.
“It’s kind of a weird feeling, really,” Hatch said. “We were just in a class, and it was just silent. Everyone’s just really quiet.”
Despite the weird energy on campus, Hatch stated that UVU students have been coming together.
“In some ways, it’s really reverent and almost touching,” she said. “It feels like almost a sense of community.”
Julie Escobar was one of the admins welcoming the UVU community back to campus. With care stations across campus, the UVU staff provided snacks and flyers with resources for students.
“This is still a place for you, always,” Escobar said. “We love you, we support you and we’re here for you. UVU is a place for you.”
While many resources are offered to students at UVU, students noted the lasting impact that the shooting will have on them.
“I think it will take a while, at least a year [to recover],” Smith said. “But I’m really glad that UVU has resources for mental health. So I really think that things will get better soon.”
As students return to the UVU campus, they will continue to uplift each other as a community to heal and reflect on the events that have transpired.
