Charlie Kirk’s college tour marks the death of the debate stage

At a time when the First Amendment is vehemently attacked, student silence is complete compliance with the views they claim to resist.

Campus protests are always revealing—they expose the character of the faculty, the priorities of your peers, and the tactics used by those in the thick of it. 

Across college campuses in America, Charlie Kirk’s polarizing presence is sparking uproar and dissent during his American Comeback Tour—a campaign designed to debate conventional narratives promoted by leftist academia.

Kirk’s West Coast stint wrapped up in Los Angeles at California State University, Northridge, with multiple student groups discouraging his presence on campus and encouraging students not to engage in public discourse.

A pro-Israel agitator inserted herself in the middle of a pro-Palestine demonstration at Cal State Northridge on March 6, 2025.

Not only should Charlie Kirk be encouraged to speak on campuses, he should be faced with a student body represented by strong leaders, challenged with researched argument, and met with facts that dismantle his rhetoric. 

Chants silence voices; engagement and facts silence fallacy.

Without proper engagement, we are merely one campus, divided in two, with liberty and justice for none. 

It’s easy to understand that events like this are for the sake of farming rage bait, views and dissent among student bodies; but it’s easier to fall victim to that very trap when vulnerable to critique due to ignorance and lack of organization.

If you don’t listen to the opposing side, how will you know you are on the right side? 

Know yourself, know your enemy and you will never be defeated.

Though protesters are not obligated to educate others, failing to do so allows misinformation to fester unchecked. Now more than ever, it is imperative to come together as a community, arm ourselves with knowledge, and confront falsehoods head-on. 

Without preparation, debate, and the courage to challenge deceit, we surrender the battlefield of ideas before the fight even begins.