San Jose State University is reviewing its safety protocols following the assassination of a conservative political commentator at a college campus in Utah.
Campus police at SJSU are increasing their presence this week following Wednesday’s targeted shooting of Charlie Kirk during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem. The latest act of political violence in recent months is raising questions on the need for increased security at university events.
University Police Chief Michael Carroll said officers are engaging with students and faculty to remind them to report suspicious activity.
“Campus safety is the University Police Department’s top priority,” Carroll told San José Spotlight.
Whenever public events are held on campus, Carroll said university police work with stakeholders and event organizers to create a safety plan. Officers assess if an upcoming event requires additional security and work with organizers for crowd and traffic control.
Kirk was co-founder of conservative youth group Turning Point USA and helped build support for President Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2024 elections. He was known for holding provocative debates on college campuses, and was at the first stop of “The American Comeback Tour” when he was shot.
Kirk visited San Jose State University during another nationwide campus tour in 2023. During that time, university staff and police took greater measures to ensure safety, campus spokesperson Michelle Smith McDonald said. Campus police collaborated with Kirk’s security team when he entered and exited the building — and also worked with the student affairs office to handle counter protests.
Smith McDonald said protests happened after the 2023 event and a window was broken at the Student Union building, but no injuries occurred and no arrests were made.
“The safety and security of our campus events is our top priority and we have established protocols in place when we have large-scale events on campus,” Smith McDonald told San José Spotlight. “In addition, we have the support of our Emergency Operations Center as well as a designated management team that assesses events for potential security issues that need to be addressed.”
SJSU students told San José Spotlight on Thursday they feel safe on campus. Freshman Alejandra Ramos said if there was another event held on campus with a right- or left-wing speaker, she would still feel comfortable attending.
“We would probably still be safe,” Ramos told San José Spotlight. “We got the police here. This might just be a learning experience so hopefully there will be more safety and security.”
Kirk’s event at Utah Valley University was held outdoors, and police believe the suspected gunman shot Kirk from a nearby rooftop. Experts say the event may not have had enough security.
Junior finance student Roberto Rojas said even though both sides of the political spectrum are controversial, he hasn’t had any bad experiences on campus.
“I don’t agree with (Kirk’s) ideas, but he’s trying to spread his own opinions and everyone should be able to do that,” Rojas told San José Spotlight. “So many people fight so much for free speech, but when it comes to someone else’s opinions, it becomes different.”
Kirk’s assassination is the latest example of escalating political violence in the U.S. In June, a man shot two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers, killing one in a campaign the FBI said was designed to stoke fear. In April, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion was set on fire by a man who said Shapiro was contributing to the death of Palestinians. Last year, Trump survived two assassination attempts.
“This cannot be the new normal. This cannot be who we become. We cannot let this constant barrage of the worst of humanity, desensitize us,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement posted on social media. “My most sincere hope is that every person, and especially every elected leader, asks themself this question today and every day: Are my actions building the world up or tearing it down? Because when we communicate using violence instead of communicating with each other, we lose all hope of progress.”
Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or @joyce_speaks on X.
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