The University of Wisconsin–River Falls has reportedly taken a position of institutional neutrality in response to the Charlie Kirk assassination, choosing not to issue a public formal statement. This decision aligns with the recently enacted Institutional Statements Policy of the Universities of Wisconsin, which emphasizes viewpoint neutrality in institutional comments. Tomesh’s Facebook post described the situation as a ‘watershed moment’ for universities, highlighting the lack of response to an event that took place on a college campus where the primary role is to foster open discourse. He expressed disgust for professors and students who celebrated Kirk’s assassination, drawing a contrast between the reaction to his death and the response to a conservative speaker, Sister Cindy Smock, who was not met with the same level of concern or support from the university. The reaction to Kirk’s death, according to Tomesh, has been deafening silence rather than a public reckoning or condemnation, and he said that he had asked his students to confirm whether they had received any guidance from their professors about the event.
Tomesh said that the political climate on college campuses has become increasingly hostile, with conservative voices often marginalized or silenced. He criticized the use of popular rhetoric that likens conservatives to ‘Nazis’ and ‘fascists,’ arguing that such labels are used to dehumanize political views and justify suppression of dissent. He also emphasized the need for individuals to separate their political views from their personal identity, describing this as a major failing in ideological progressive movements. The professor said that tolerating dissenting opinions is essential to the health of Western culture, and that the inability to do so could result in civil unrest or conflict. The University of Wisconsin–River Falls responded to the controversy by reaffirming its commitment to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and respectful dialogue, stating that it is committed to a climate of support and safety for all students and faculty.