The Impact of Charlie Kirk at Arizona State University

As a faculty advisor for Turning Point USA at Arizona State University, my experience as a philosophy professor led me to notice the significance of Charlie Kirk’s actions. He quickly caught the attention of others, including those who, well, prefer not to be questioned. Attempts were made to silence him.

Charlie achieved something many consider impossible. He ventured into the core of modern academia, where the left proclaims to hold the wisdom of the ages. He did what professors should have tackled long ago: he inquired. He openly challenged prevailing assumptions and sought clarity. He constructed logical arguments that invited discussion.

Charlie’s intentions weren’t about scoring points or gaining approval. He genuinely cared about the students’ well-being.

He was akin to the American Socrates.

In the Spirit of Socratic Dialogue

Like the ancient Athenian philosopher, Charlie confronted those who claimed wisdom and posed countless questions, all filmed for public view. These inquiries spanned topics such as gender, economics, faith, and politics. He often asked if they could legitimately hold onto their views.

Time and again, he flipped the narrative, revealing the unreasonable elements of what was taught in left-leaning classrooms.

When discussing gender ideology, he unveiled what he terms “transsexual heresy,” illustrating that students should define the concept of reality—male or female—rather than following an ideological script. He cautioned that confusion could obscure the truth, emphasizing the importance of objective reality. Mental health challenges shouldn’t dictate what is real. Indeed, anyone lacking fundamental knowledge—like the differences between sexes—is hardly fit to teach.

In his discussions about economics, he dismantled Marxist clichés learned from professors, highlighting that personal responsibility—not socialism—is vital for human flourishing. Facing Rousseau’s theories, students claimed that private property and the system would compel them into criminality. Charlie effectively countered this by questioning their sense of free will, which was a striking moment that resonated with all observers.

When it came to Christianity, he contended with narratives that dismissed faith as merely patriarchal or a guise for white supremacy. Professors, it seemed, harbored a disdain for the Bible that they passed onto their students.

While parents paid hefty tuition fees, these educators often undermined their students’ faith. They believed they had thoroughly poisoned the roots of belief, yet Charlie went in and cleared the ground, making space for the Gospel to be heard.

The Professors’ Backlash

This is what led to the backlash against Charlie.

I attended faculty meetings where professors mocked the idea of “dismantling” Christian beliefs among their students. I witnessed them assign readings that celebrated witchcraft while disparaging Christianity as “oppressive.” Efforts had been made to prevent Charlie from speaking on campus, labeling him a “white supremacist.”

The ASU Honors Faculty even barred him from addressing the Honors College while hosting an event glorifying magic. If they detest him that much, it says something about the value of his work.

The spiritual battle remained murky.

Charlie wasn’t on a quest for applause; he genuinely cared about the students’ spiritual well-being. He stood against professors who saw students as mere tools to further their ideological missions. He ridiculed degree programs aimed at creating “Radical Advocates.” Because he believed those students could be saved from the void of godlessness in their classrooms.

A Clear Hypocrisy

After Charlie’s passing, some on the left said, “Let’s all calm down.” It’s essential to note that there’s no moral equivalence here, yet the left inflamed discussions by labeling him a white supremacist. They hold sway over American universities, where conservatives and Christians are branded as “fascist white supremacists” worse than Hitler.

Where was the sense of calm after the unrest sparked by George Floyd’s death? There was no restraint then. The chaos escalated. Professors used their classes to promote discussions surrounding Black Lives Matter.

However, students from TPUSA don’t resort to the kind of destruction seen in those protests. They do what Charlie taught: they utilize reason and logic to challenge the lies prevalent in their education. Like those students in Athens following Socrates’ trial, they stand up to professors and honor the legacy of a man who stood for truth.

Ultimately, these professors will understand they’ve been weighed and deemed lacking. They are not the heroes in this story.

Socrates’ Prophecies Still Hold

Before his execution, Socrates warned his accusers that a more significant judgment awaited them than they’d imposed on him. They executed him, aiming to silence him, yet his death only illuminated their ignorance. They were exposed as individuals who could not rationally defend their actions and lived unexamined lives.

The same dynamics apply to what we’ve seen here.

Charlie’s death won’t mute his voice; rather, it enhances his example. Students continue to question authority. They expose the ignorance of the professors who scorned Charlie’s approach. These radical educators now wear the shame of trying to mask their ignorance behind a facade of disdain.

As a Christian pastor, I understand that Charlie recognized the spiritual risk he faced. He acknowledged Christ as his Savior publicly, and ideologically driven professors were aware of this. They witnessed students commit their souls to faith—something they rejected.

Now, those professors might think they’ve silenced Charlie, but they must live with their own moral failures. They can either choose to repent or remain in the shadows, facing the ultimate judgment. The blood of martyrs has historically sown seeds of revival.

May Charlie’s life and yes, even his untimely death, inspire a new generation of truth-seeking students who pursue wisdom and resist the lure of the false idols in our educational institutions. Let us reveal to a secular professor the unmistakable truth about God and the goodness that is often overlooked.

Charlie Kirk embodied the spirit of Socrates in America. The left-wing professor sought to diminish him, yet they cannot evade the questions he instilled in generations to ask.