Recent efforts by a Michigan county to honor Charlie Kirk have hit a snag. Ferris State University has opted not to install a statue of the late Turning Point USA CEO, who was killed a few weeks ago.
The Mecosta County Commission had suggested reaching out to the university president, Bill Pink, to discuss the statue. However, Pink’s response came in the form of a letter denying the request, which referenced the school’s policy of only allowing statues for individuals who significantly impacted the university.
According to Pink’s letter, the only statue currently on campus is that of the university’s founder, Woodbridge N. Ferris. He expressed condolences for Kirk’s tragic death but emphasized that the school has a longstanding practice regarding commemorative statues.
During a recent commission meeting, Republican Chairman Chris Zimmerman shared a draft letter aimed at proposing the statue. He even displayed a photo of a similar statue while seeking approval from the board, which ultimately voted 5-1 in favor of moving forward.
The board had intended to collaborate with the College of Fine Arts at Ferris State to create a bronze statue of Kirk, complete with a plaque highlighting the partnership.
While there has been a significant outcry over Kirk’s assassination, his contributions were noted in a letter from the committee, which mentioned that Kirk had a unique ability to engage young people in debates about important public policy issues. They urged not to overlook his legacy.
After Kirk’s death on September 10, Turning Point USA announced an overwhelming response, with over 120,000 inquiries from those looking to start new campus chapters. In addition, efforts are being discussed in Oklahoma to memorialize Kirk on various state campuses.
Meanwhile, a highway in Clermont, Florida, has been named in his honor, commemorating the late conservative activist. As it stands, TPUSA operates numerous university and high school chapters, reflecting Kirk’s lasting influence.
