Overview
- Utah Valley University says author and educator Sharon McMahon will address graduates and receive an honorary doctorate, and the school has described the response to her selection as well received.
- The pushback centers on her comments after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on the UVU campus, with a Utah resident charged in the case.
- Conservative student groups at UVU, including the Turning Point USA chapter and College Republicans, called the choice disrespectful to students still grieving Kirk.
- Her online response included since-deleted posts saying the murder was horrific yet did not erase harm some felt from Kirk’s rhetoric, as well as a separate Facebook video offering condolences to his family.
- Republican figures added pressure, with Sen. Mike Lee urging UVU to find another speaker and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz calling McMahon a horrific choice.