“Our event tonight received over 1,200 RSVPs, more than half being students at UT. Since Monday, our student membership at the UT chapter has grown almost 10 fold,” Emma Arns, president of the Turning Point USA chapter at UT, said.
Turnout at Charlie Kirk’s remembrance on Sept. 17, hosted by TPUSA, reflected Kirk’s impact on UT students during his life and the ripples his death sent into the community.
Faculty advisor for TPUSA Mark Atkeson spoke about how Kirk’s public assassination may ignite a range of emotions in students.
“Many of you may be experiencing a number of different emotions, like shock, sorrow, grief, sadness, anger, feeling of retaliation and maybe some hopelessness. Hopefully none of you here feel indifferent, or nothing at all … what happened a week ago was horrific and tragic, even if you didn’t like what he stood for,” Atkeson said.
Emma Atkins, who said she is a TPUSA member, described her initial reaction to Kirk’s passing.
“I went outside and started crying, like sobbing. I was just laying out on our back deck sobbing and wailing,” Atkins said. “I never realized how much of an impact someone can make when you don’t know them in flesh, but you know them in spirit. He was a member of the body of Christ and this is about light versus darkness … I turned to Jesus Christ to help cope with it.”
Event organizers opened with a prayer, followed by members of the chapter’s executive board sharing their personal experiences with Kirk. Several identified Kirk as pivotal in shaping them into the person they are today.
“Charlie Kirk changed my life,” Arns said. “I don’t mean that lightly. Before I ever stood on a stage, before I ever carried the weight of the chapter of Turning Point USA at the University of Tennessee, before this microphone, I was just a kid trying to make sense of who I was and what I was meant to do. And then I found Charlie and Turning Point USA.”
Organizers played a collection of video recordings made by politicians, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Tim Burchett and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. The messages were directed toward members of the UT community at large, with Lee’s video being targeted particularly to Turning Point members.
“Hey Turning Point USA, Gov. Bill Lee here. As you gather this evening, my heart is heavy for a lot of reasons,” Lee said. “Particularly for Charlie’s wife Erika, and their two children as they navigate this unthinkable tragedy. My heart is also encouraged, as people like you gather across the country to remember a man who wholeheartedly committed his life to the values and principles he believed were foundational to America.”
Livingston Holley, a senior studying public relations, is guided by her faith to handle the emotional weight of Kirk’s passing.
“I think turning to God has really helped,” Holley said. “I’ve talked to my family about it. I’ve watched, you know, videos of him with his family, to make me feel better. I did watch Erika Kirk’s interview as well. I think that helped a little bit. So, especially seeing how she was very, very optimistic that he is with God now, he is in a better place. I think that helps a lot too.”
What helps senior communications major Rebecca Markoski in this emotional time is a sense of community and leaning on her friends.
“I mean, just coming to these kinds of things, you see how big the community really is and people who have the same values, same beliefs as you … so even in this line, there’s hundreds of people that you can turn to, talk to about these things. Also, joining the Turning Point chapter is super helpful, where you can talk to the people who are putting these things together, who actually had a tie to Charlie Kirk himself,” Markoski said.
Byron Hughes, assistant vice chancellor and dean of students, expressed his condolences in an email on Sept. 11 to members of TPUSA and reminded them that help is available.
“I’ve been following the horrific events of yesterday and the loss of Charlie Kirk,” Hughes said. “It’s not lost on me the significance he holds within Turning Point USA and I know for most of you this is deeply impactful. I’m sorry for the loss you’re feeling and share the concern that violence is never okay.”
Hughes also stated that his office and colleagues are “deeply committed to what you may be experiencing right now” and that the Center for Care and Resilience “stands ready to receive you” and can be reached at 865-974-HELP.
The Student Counseling Center is another accessible mental health resource available to students experiencing any level of distress. According to a university statement provided by Lisa Leko, communications manager within the Office of Communications and Marketing, the center offers services like psychiatry, individual and group counseling and crisis intervention.
“The university remains committed to supporting the campus community’s mental and emotional well-being,” Leko said. “As with any tragedy or concerning event, the Office of the Dean of Students reached out to impacted students directly, including the registered student organization, Turning Point USA.”
Many of the event’s speakers found solace in the community coming together in mourning in the wake of Kirk’s death. Others, including Rep. Burchett, highlighted now as a time to organize and strategize in Kirk’s name.
For those who admired or followed Kirk, Arns reminds students that Kirk’s passing is not the end of the movement, but in fact a catalyst.
“Charlie’s vision will not end with his breath, but will live on in ours,” Arns said.
Attendees of Charlie Kirk's memorial on Sept 17, sporting signs.
