The violent attack that took Charlie Kirk’s life on a college stage was a wake-up call for every patriotic student who still believes in free speech and the American idea. That sniper assassination on a Utah Valley University campus shredded any comfort that conservative voices could safely be marginalized, and it exposed how raw the cultural war has become on our campuses.

Kirk didn’t just speak; he taught a generation of young Americans to stand up and debate, turning embarrassed conservatives into confident conservatives who refused to stay silent in hostile classrooms. Students repeatedly said he made it “cool” to be conservative again, and that blunt, unapologetic approach rattled the academic elites who prefer conformity to courage.

Now those students are answering the call. Turning Point chapters and other conservative groups are springing back to life across the country as young patriots organize, register voters, and force campus administrations to reckon with their bias. This grassroots revival proves that conservative ideas don’t need permission slips from professors or the media to win when students are willing to show up and fight.

The national outpouring for Kirk made one thing clear: millions of Americans recognize what’s at stake for the next generation. Tens of thousands turned out to honor him and to declare that the values he championed — free speech, faith, and personal responsibility — are not negotiable. That kind of turnout is the kindling of a movement, not the end of it.

But make no mistake: standing up costs something. As conservatives become more visible on campus, they face smear campaigns, harassment, and even threats that force scholars and students to consider leaving their posts or hiding their views. The soft-on-speech culture of elite institutions has consequences, and the intimidation campaigns aimed at dissenting voices must be exposed and rejected.

If you’re a student who cares about the future of this country, this moment is yours. Organize a chapter, speak at a forum, challenge a professor with facts and civility, and refuse to accept censorship dressed up as “inclusion.” Colleges were meant to strengthen the mind and the spirit of America — it’s time to reclaim them with courage, common sense, and an unshakable loyalty to truth.