UVU drops commencement speaker due to ‘safety concerns’ after intense backlash

OREM, Utah (KUTV) — Utah Valley University introduced it is going to not have a keynote speaker at this yr’s commencement ceremony after the choice drew criticism from college students and state leaders.

Author Sharon McMahon was introduced as UVU’s keynote speaker for this yr’s commencement ceremony, scheduled for April 29.

The selection was heavily scrutinized due to McMahon’s earlier feedback on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which occurred on the college’s campus initially of the tutorial yr.

“Due to increased safety concerns related to the speaker and in consultation with public safety professionals and Sharon McMahon, Utah Valley University has decided to proceed without a featured commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony,” UVU officers mentioned.

The posts, which have since been deleted, had been revealed by McMahon shortly after Kirk’s assassination. In them, she criticized Kirk’s rhetoric and addressed “why there is so much backlash to posts eulogizing his death.”

“It’s necessary to keep in mind that the unbelievable tragedy of a public assassination doesn’t erase the hurt many skilled from his phrases and the following actions his followers took,” the posts read.

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McMahon previously addressed the concerns in a statement, saying she repeatedly called his death a tragedy.

“Sharon unequivocally condemned the homicide of Charlie Kirk, repeatedly and publicly calling his demise a tragedy and stressing that public debate must not ever be met with violence. Sharon’s purpose is to unpack what is occurring in society and assist folks perceive how authorities works. That spirit is mirrored in her work—bringing collectively voices from throughout the aisle in closed-door conversations together with her e book membership group, from Amy Coney Barrett to Kamala Harris, and in interviews with Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Nikki Haley, to foster the form of dialogue and perspective democracy is determined by. She believes what we’d like most is extra bridge-building and extra folks keen to present up for each other.”

UVU officials said this class is the largest in the university’s history, with more than 13,400 graduates.

Heidi Hatch contributed to this report.

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