This author, scholar and blogger had the privilege of serving as a college professor of History and Political Science for 53 years, teaching, either full time or part time, at a total of eight different colleges and universities, four in New York from 1972-1989, and four in south Florida from 1989-2025.
Never in those years did the thought of someone speaking before college and university students being assassinated, with thousands looking on, cross my mind.
So the shocking assassination of right wing advocate Charlie Kirk in Utah has hit every person, who believes in dialogue and tolerance of differing views, with a sense of shock and disbelief.
It makes one have to worry that college and university campuses may be in danger of being new battlegrounds of dissidents using weapons to attack their rivals, a situation that is intolerable and horrifying!
Higher education is supposed to be the location for open, challenging debate of ideas, but not a location to set out to eliminate those critical of others, and unwilling to have a civilized dialogue.
It is clear that colleges and universities will have to bolster their law enforcement operations as essential actions, but also a sad commentary on the growing threat of political violence!
It is also essential to listen to Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who promoted dialogue and understanding in the wake of the shooting, arguing for the need to tone down the rhetoric and accusations, particularly since the young man who committed the terrible act was from a Republican and Trump supporting family, not from a so called “leftist’ background!