TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — As preparations get underway for a memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, on Sept. 21, memorials and vigils for the conservative activist are being held all around the country.
One of the vigils is set to take place at Desert Financial Arena on the campus of Arizona State University on Monday evening.
“ASU has been really generous, I was so happy with how they stepped up because initially we were going to have this event at a smaller venue and it began to look like we’re going to get a lot of people coming out and so ASU offered the Desert Financial Arena with no costs to the TPUSA student club,” said ASU Turning Point USA Chapter Faculty Advisor Owen Anderson.
Turning Point USA’s ASU chapter is one of the student organizations putting on the vigil. On Friday night, posts by prominent Arizona Republicans on social media accused ASU of sabotaging the event that ASU College Republicans say they are also helping organize.
🚨 BREAKING: ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SABOTAGING STUDENT-LED CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL SERVICE
I have been contacted by sources close to the @ASU chapter of the College Republicans @asu_gop with information that ASU, less than 48 hours before a planned memorial service, has decided… pic.twitter.com/ijxvzlYfVc
— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) September 13, 2025
Arizona State University says that all reports that the vigil was not proceeding or that student groups were going to be charged are false and that the event on Monday will go on at no cost to students or any student organization. ASU College Republicans sent a statement to Arizona’s Family on Saturday night.
In response to the claims being reported from the ASU Administrators that our initial statement was false or misinformation, we felt it was necessary to clarify the situation to the press, holding the university accountable for its leadership. As you will see, as evidenced by the corresponding document, Arizona State University administrators on Friday evening attempted to force our volunteer-led student club to foot the bill for likely enormous security and operational costs.
After less than 12 hours of public outcry from Arizona Senator Jake Hoffman, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, and millions of Americans, we received a frenzied call from ASU Senior Leadership in which they clarified their position; this time offering us the venue, all security, and logistics at no charge.
As the axiom goes, “it’s better late than never;” however, this situation should have never occurred. While the university may not have intended to charge us at all, it was improper of the university in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk not to give this issue its due attention. It’s wrong for them to play these kinds of games — with groups on the right or left. Let us be clear, the ASU College Republicans Prayer Vigil is not a political event, it is a human event. It is an event designed to mourn the loss of a national mentor for tens of millions of young Americans, and celebrate the incredible impact Charlie Kirk had on America and the world.
But not every student at ASU is happy about the university offering up Desert Financial Arena and covering the costs.
“My thoughts are, where was all of this for the elementary school shootings and all these past shootings and George Floyd, and like where was all of it then?” said ASU Freshman Nevayah Rawls.
Kirk was a polarizing figure in a divisive time in American politics.
“It’s definitely not something that I’d want to be paying for because I’m out of state too, so the tuition, it’s not what I would want my tuition money going towards at all,” said Rawls.
But Anderson says the gesture by the university is an “amazing” way to honor Kirk.
“I think one reason is because the students all need to see that free speech is affirmed and recognized, and what Charlie Kirk did was he just debated with whoever wanted to debate with him,” said Anderson.
The doors to the vigil will open at 4:30 p.m. with the event set to run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a clear bag policy in effect, and security will be on site.
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