The climate of political tension on U.S. college campuses has forced students to rethink how they promote free speech, encourage open dialogue, and still maintain campus safety. After the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, student leaders at the University of Colorado Boulder found themselves reconsidering their earlier plans.
Their student-run organization, TEDxCU, had invited liberal commentator Dean Withers, a well-known progressive influencer with 4.7 million TikTok followers, to speak at their April 4, 2026 event. But the tragedy surrounding Kirk’s death changed everything for them.
Why TEDxCU Reconsidered Their Speaker Lineup
Concerns Sparked by Political Violence
The TEDxCU leadership team was shaken by Kirk’s assassination. The event made them realize that inviting someone like Withers—who often engages in heated debates, challenges Trump supporters, and uses occasional divisive rhetoric—could expose their event to safety risks.
In their iMessage discussions, key student organizers expressed shock over Kirk’s killing and agreed to reassess the decision. Ultimately, they dropped the plan to invite Withers, who has referred to former President Trump as “the orange tyrant.”
“We just couldn’t justify it… the safety risk was too high,” said Kalen Sieja, a senior and one of the club’s co-curators.
Free Speech vs. Safety: A Difficult Balance
Students Feel Increasingly Limited
For TEDxCU leaders, navigating free expression, controversial voices, and campus security has become increasingly complicated. They cited several recent events impacting their sense of freedom:
- The assassination of Charlie Kirk
- The 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump
- Rising political polarization nationwide
“Creating conversations that spark controversy doesn’t feel safe anymore,” said junior Lina Meddah, another TEDxCU leader.
Second Thoughts About Withers
Some students, including junior co-curator Kira Warren, admitted they still wonder whether dropping Withers was the right decision. She believes he would have contributed meaningfully to discussions about politics, media, and social platforms.
“It feels like we’re holding back… these political issues matter and we should talk about them,” Warren said.
Understanding the TEDxCU Event and Its Goals
One of the Nation’s Largest Campus TEDx Events
According to its faculty adviser, CU Boulder hosts one of the country’s biggest TEDx university events. In spring 2025, more than 1,000 people attended.
The theme for the 2026 event—“On the Contrary”—was selected months before Kirk’s death. The idea was to inspire audiences to view opposing viewpoints as opportunities for connection rather than conflict.
Initial Conversation With Withers
Before formally inviting Withers, students contacted his team on Instagram. They wanted him to focus on how young people interact with politics and news online, not on his partisan beliefs. Still, they understood that Withers’ presence would inevitably be seen as political.
Who Is Dean Withers?
Withers is known for:
- Strong progressive activism
- Support for LGBTQ rights, abortion access, and health care reform
- Public backing of Kamala Harris in 2024
- A confrontational debate style
- Past controversies, including the use of slurs (for which he apologized)
Some club members feared that his appearance might violate TEDx rules, which prohibit partisan promotion and inflammatory language.
Others believed he could offer crucial insight into social media’s political influence.
Growing Safety Concerns on Campus
High-Tension Environment at CU Boulder
The decision to drop Withers was shaped partly by CU Boulder’s recent security problems:
- An August shooting hoax
- A September bomb threat
- Students feeling increasingly unsafe on campus
TEDxCU leaders said these incidents affected their mental health and heightened their caution.
Security Costs Are Increasing
Last year’s TEDx event featured Denver drag performer Felony Misdemeanor, prompting the group to spend $3,500 on:
- Police officers
- Private security
- Metal detectors
With Kirk’s recent assassination, organizers plan to invest in similar safety measures for the 2026 event.
New Speaker Direction for TEDxCU
Without Withers, students have begun planning a new speaker lineup. Potential guests include:
- A Denver Chinese restaurant owner who educates people about cultural food misconceptions (including the safety of MSG)
- A veteran who works as an ER trauma doctor
- An advocate for individuals who stutter
“We must protect the TED brand while ensuring our speakers remain safe,” Meddah explained.
The Struggle Between Open Dialogue and Safety
Senior Kalen Sieja says the hardest part of the decision is sacrificing open discussion. As a political science student, he emphasized that TED exists to share ideas worth spreading—a mission that becomes harder to fulfill in a charged political climate.
The situation at CU Boulder reflects a national challenge: balancing the values of free expression, student safety, and open debate on politically divided campuses.
TEDxCU leaders remain committed to hosting meaningful conversations, but recent violence and tension have forced them to prioritize protection over controversy.
As they move forward with new speakers, their experience underscores the complex reality of promoting dialogue in an era defined by polarization, online influence, and heightened security concerns.
