A Christian apologist and mentor to slain media personality Charlie Kirk is set to speak on the McNeese campus Tuesday at an event in honor of his friend.
Dr. Frank Turek, the founder and president of apologetics ministry CrossExamined.org, will speak at 7 p.m. in the New Ranch. The event, sponsored by the McNeese BCM, will address the topic “If God, Why Evil? A Q&A in Honor of My Friend Charlie Kirk.”
Ryan Lewis, a member of the BCM leadership team, said the McNeese event was already scheduled, but the team adjusted the subject of the talk in light of Kirk’s death.
Kirk was a conservative commentator and the co-founder and executive director of conservative organization Turning Point USA. He gained notoriety by traveling to various college campuses around the country to debate students and faculty on any topic, from theology to current events. His internet show, The Charlie Kirk Show, pulled in millions of views per week across multiple platforms. Kirk became even more famous during the most recent presidential election because of his contributions to President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Kirk was killed Sept. 10 during a public speaking and debate event at Utah Valley University as he spoke to a crowd of about 3,000 people. Authorities said the shot was from the roof of a building about 100 yards away. Tyler James Robinson, 22, has since been arrested and faces seven charges, including felony discharge of a firearm and aggravated murder. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty in the case.
Some McNeese students have said they would feel unsafe attending an event like the one scheduled for Tuesday, while others say such events provide an important forum for needed discussion.
Senior sociology major Oluseun Olagbaju said he would not feel safe attending such an event, nor does he feel comfortable sharing his beliefs with others.
“I try to keep those opinions to my close circle,” Olagbaju said.
Sophomore marketing major Ali Conner said she thought the event was a good idea.
“I think that would be really beneficial for McNeese,” Conner said. “Involving college [students] more and educating them.”
Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, senior vice president of student affairs at McNeese, said the university prioritizes the safety of the campus community along with respect for human rights in relation to events such as these.
“I am more than highly confident that our university protocols, policies, and practices reflect our ambition to be aligned with best practices and industry standards that make our students and employees as safe as possible,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas said outside groups are allowed to host events on McNeese’s campus according to one of two policies that govern the use of campus space.
“The Free Speech and Public Forum policy is dedicated to demonstrations that do not require exclusivity and offer open access to spectators,” Nicholas said. “The Facilities Use Policy is dedicated to reserving space for events with targeted audiences.”
