The year 2025 witnessed several significant incidents of violence and unrest on American college campuses, reflecting ongoing tensions around political activism, free speech, antisemitism, and broader issues of gun violence. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah.
Additionally, Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of the Brown University College Republicans, was one of two students killed in a mass shooting at Brown University on December 13, 2025.
These events, alongside continued pro-Palestinian protests and rising antisemitic incidents, dominated headlines and sparked debates about campus safety.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, marked one of the most shocking incidents. Kirk was speaking at a campus event when 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly shot him from a rooftop.
Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, with prosecutors alleging political motivation based on texts expressing hatred toward Kirk's views and evidence of radicalization in online subcultures.
The Department of Justice considered federal hate crime charges.
The event heightened fears among conservative groups about targeted violence against right-leaning speakers, with subsequent polls showing shifts in student attitudes toward free speech and tolerance for disruptive actions.
Just months later, on December 13, a gunman opened fire in an engineering building at Brown University during finals week, killing Ella Cook and freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov while injuring at least nine others.
Cook, described as a devoted Christian and active conservative leader, was mourned widely in her home community in Alabama.
As of mid-December, the suspect remained at large, with police releasing videos of a masked individual but no confirmed motive.
Some conservative commentators speculated targeting due to Cook's political role, though authorities have not confirmed this, and investigations continued without linking it directly to ideology.
Pro-Palestinian activism persisted into 2025, with protests, encampments, and building occupations at numerous campuses.
While many were peaceful, others involved clashes. At the University of Washington (UW), protesters occupied a building in May, causing over $1 million in damage and leading to dozens of arrests.
Police in riot gear intervened, drawing accusations of excessive force.
The Trump administration launched federal reviews into alleged antisemitic violence at UW.
At UCLA, ongoing fallout from prior-year protests included a $6 million settlement with Jewish students who sued over alleged failures to protect them from harassment and violence during encampments.
Smaller protests occurred in 2025, with reports of dispersals by police.
Broader trends showed harassment, threats, and occasional physical altercations tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Antisemitic incidents reached record highs, with organizations tracking hundreds during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.
Vandalism, disruptions, and harassment affected Jewish students at schools like Columbia and others, prompting federal investigations and "F" grades for some institutions on antisemitism report cards.
Other violence included swatting incidents, sexual assaults (the most reported campus crime), and isolated shootings.
Polls post-Kirk assassination indicated growing student acceptance of disruptive tactics, including rare tolerance for violence to silence speakers.
Criticism of college presidents often centers on their compensation and handling of crises. In 2025, public university presidents saw average pay increases of about 5.3%, with many earning $500,000 to over $1 million including benefits.
Critics argue these salaries are excessive amid rising tuition, stagnant faculty pay, and budget strains, with some systems like California State University facing backlash for executive raises.
On safety, presidents faced scrutiny from multiple angles. Jewish groups and conservatives accused some of inadequate protection against antisemitic harassment or violence during protests, leading to lawsuits (e.g., UCLA) and federal probes.
Conversely, pro-Palestinian activists and civil liberties organizations criticized heavy police responses and restrictions on protest rights.
High-profile incidents like the Kirk assassination and Brown shooting underscored challenges in preventing targeted or random gun violence, despite enhanced security measures at many institutions.
Presidents navigated polarized environments, balancing First Amendment rights, safety protocols, and federal compliance. Some implemented new policies or faced resignations amid pressure, highlighting the job's complexity rather than universal failure.
Compensation debates persist, with defenders noting competitive markets for leadership talent, reliance on security cameras, antagonism towards local law enforcement and money prioritized towards DEI and away from campus security.
Overall, 2025's campus violence stemmed from political polarization, easy gun access, and unresolved conflicts over the Israel-Gaza war. While Jewish and conservative students reported feeling unsafe in some cases, incidents affected diverse groups, and responses varied widely.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
