New College of Florida, the state’s public liberal arts institution in Sarasota, announced on September 16, 2025, plans to commission a bronze statue of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, positioning it as a symbol of commitment to free speech and civil discourse. The privately funded tribute, supported by community leaders, will depict Kirk seated at a table with a microphone and two empty chairs, evoking his signature campus debates through Turning Point USA, the organization he co-founded.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot by a sniper during a rally at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, marking the first political assassination in the U.S. since 1968. The attack, carried out by suspect Tyler Robinson, has sparked national mourning and debates on extremism. New College President Richard Corcoran, a former Florida House Speaker, stated, “Charlie Kirk knew that universities are ground zero for free speech and the marketplace of ideas. These ideas are not luxuries, but the foundation of a free republic.” He emphasized the statue’s role in making New College “the number one college in the nation” for supporting civil debate.
The announcement coincides with the launch of the college’s expanded Socratic Stage series, starting September 23, featuring discussions on media bias with conservative figures like Scott Atlas and Mollie Hemingway. Debra Jenks, chair of the Board of Trustees, added, “Public discourse is not optional in a free society—it is essential.” The statue’s location will be revealed soon, with unveiling expected by year’s end.
Kirk, who owned a vacation home on nearby Longboat Key, inspired the campus’s Turning Point chapter. The move has drawn praise from conservatives, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who credited Kirk for her career, but also criticism from progressives who view him as divisive. As investigations into his death continue, the statue underscores New College’s transformation under Corcoran into a hub for conservative-leaning discourse.
