The assassination of MAGA ally Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU) has raised serious questions about campus security and preparedness in the US. Kirk, a conservative political activist and social media influencer, was shot dead on September 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, allegedly fired from a nearby rooftop because of Kirk’s political views.
Robinson was arrested the following day and faces the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder. As per news agency Associated Press’s review, the university lacked multiple standard public safety measures common at large events across the country.
Vulnerable outdoor venue
Kirk was speaking in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by tall buildings, which created clear lines of sight for potential attackers. Security measures were minimal: UVU deployed only six campus police officers and did not implement bag checks, metal detectors, or coordinated efforts with local law enforcement.A sniper used a nearby rooftop to shoot Kirk about 20 minutes into the event, escaping detection by the small security detail.“Absolutely there were security failures; it left him exposed,” said Greg Shaffer, who oversaw Kirk’s security from 2015 to 2022, according to AP.
Lack of drone and surveillance monitoring
Despite clear weather that day, no drones were deployed to monitor rooftops — a step experts say could have helped identify high-risk areas. Security consultant Ty Richmond said, “It was either not done comprehensively or not done at all, because that should have been a natural ability to identify and detect any high ground risk”.While UVU has numerous cameras on campus, the university declined to confirm if they were actively monitored during the event.
Smaller than average police force
UVU, which enrols roughly 48,000 students, employs only 23 police officers, about one officer per 1,400 students, compared to the national average of one per 500. At Kirk’s event, six campus officers were present alongside his personal security team. Local agencies equipped with drones, such as the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and the Orem Police Department, were not involved.Other Utah commuter-focused universities, like Weber State and the University of Utah, have higher police-to-student ratios and utilise drones for security, highlighting UVU’s comparatively limited resources.
Public safety resources lag behind campus growth
UVU has expanded from a community college of fewer than 9,000 students in the early 1990s to nearly 48,000 today. Former campus safety leaders said the university did not adequately increase security staffing or funding to match this growth.Val Peterson, UVU’s vice president overseeing public safety, allegedly resisted hiring more officers, believing the campus was safe due to a long absence of major incidents. Former police Sgt. Bryan Cunningham warned that the campus could become an “active shooter nightmare” due to understaffed security and campus layout.
Inadequate emergency response systems
At the time of the shooting, UVU lacked a fire marshal to assist with event planning. Internal reviews showed two of three campus emergency radio channels did not meet state standards, limiting coordination during emergencies.
Security assessments removed from state legislation
Following the 2022 Uvalde shooting, Utah lawmakers required rigorous safety assessments for K-12 schools and attempted to extend similar mandates to public universities. However, a proposed provision for university assessments was removed by the state senate.Rep Ryan Wilcox, who introduced the legislation, said the absence of mandatory assessments can leave institutions unaware of vulnerabilities, “Because those assessments haven’t been done, I don’t know what I don’t know about how prepared we are”.
