CHICAGO, IL, 10/14/2025 – In a moment where a considerable number of college students and professors celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, students and faculty at the University of Chicago gathered to attend Turning Point USA’s memorial service for Charlie Kirk on what should have been his 32nd birthday. The event lasted roughly one hour and took place in Bond Chapel. The memorial service stood as a clear reminder of the importance of protecting free speech and inquiry.
The service contained an array of speakers, including: Tyler Shasteen (UChicago TPUSA President), Professor Harald Uhlig (UChicago Economics Department), Emma Mote (Chicago Area TPUSA Field Representative), Braeden Prunier (UChicago TPUSA Vice President), Dean Maurice Charles (Dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel), Ravy Uong, (UChicago Institute of Politics Director of Civic Engagement), and Professor Daniel Fabrycky (UChicago Astronomy & Astrophysics Department).
The memorial service was opened by Tyler Shasteen, who recalled his experience meeting Kirk for the first time in 2023. Shasteen recalled how Charlie shared a meal with him and other local TPUSA leaders. He recalled how Charlie deeply engaged with them. Shasteen said, “When I opened up about personal [issues] I was navigating through at the time, Charlie didn’t offer proud answers or soundbites. Instead, he recommended books that helped him personally. He wanted to lend a helping hand wherever he could. That night wasn’t just a meeting; it was a mentorship.”
He ended his speech by emphasizing the importance of faith to Kirk, who claimed during a podcast interview, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing: the most important thing is my faith.” This was also the quote on the bottom of the bulletins handed out at the service. The importance of Faith was a recurring theme during the service. The impact that Charlie had on bringing young people back into faith was palpable in the room.
Faith was just one of several themes mentioned during the memorial service. The importance of free speech and expression was at the forefront of everyone’s mind at this event. Professor Uhlig highlighted how recent events, such as Jay Jones’s violent remarks, must galvanize young people to fight even harder for civil discourse and open debate.
Kirk’s enthusiasm for the youth was highlighted. Emma Mote spoke of how he was always excited and passionate about reaching out to young people and making conservative ideas relatable. In that vein, Braeden Prunier highlighted how much Charlie valued his family. He implored the audience to consider the pain that Kirk’s death has inflicted on his young children.
Perhaps most impactfully, forgiveness was mentioned. Erika Kirk’s brave proclamation of forgiveness for her husband’s killer was also mentioned. It was highlighted how Erika Kirk referred to the murderer not as a monster but as “that young man.” Speakers highlighted how, in our own lives, we should strive to be more like Erika Kirk. More forgiving and graceful with those who have wronged us.
Following the service, when asked what’s next for TPUSA and the broader conservative movement at UChicago, Braeden Prunier answered by saying that there will be no slowing down. He mentioned that they are very excited to be announcing some more speakers to come to campus soon, following this week’s visit by conservative commentator Cam Higby. He also mentioned that, in a way, Charlie’s death emboldened them to work even harder to promote TPUSA. He spoke of how the overall UChicago community can often be unfriendly to conservative speakers, but how he appreciated the administration’s support of free expression and institutional neutrality. When asked what he had to say to those who vehemently opposed what he and Charlie Kirk stand for, he said, “Some of my closest friends are liberal. We have a lot of people who have identified themselves as Democrats coming to college Republican meetings. It’s not an us-versus-you thing. We need to get away from these ad hominem attacks. Have a conversation and try to find the middle ground.”