PULLMAN, Wash. – Students at Washington State University are in disbelief following the news of Charlie Kirk’s death. Kirk, who spoke on campus earlier this spring, was a public figure whose death has resonated deeply with students.
The reaction on campus has been one of shock, transcending political affiliations. Colin Rovey, an agricultural technology student, expressed his dismay.
“It’s deplorable by all means, no matter which side of the political aisle you fall on. It doesn’t matter where you are or who it is, you shouldn’t… not shoot someone just over their political opinion,” Rovey said.
Many students first learned about the incident through social media and struggled to process the news. Macali Lade, a freshman, shared her initial disbelief.
“I didn’t think it was real at first, and then like seeing all of my friends kind of repost things and stuff like that, it was like a big shock to me, and i don’t know, it just was a huge shock. i just, i didn’t even know how to react to it. It was kind of just like, wow,” Lade said.
For some, the focus was not on politics but on the human loss. Howard Lan, a junior and international student from Taiwan, reflected on Kirk’s humanity.
“I personally think he’s a human, you know. He’s just, he’s brave enough to be out there and voice his thoughts, and I think it’s really sad to see that happen,” Lan said.
Students expressed their condolences to Kirk’s family and noted that his death serves as a poignant reminder of how quickly tragedy can cut across political lines.
