Charlie Kirk’s killing sparks discussion among UNL political science students

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Political science students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said some things were different on campus — and in their own thinking — Thursday after Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Alexander Huddleson, a senior, said his international politics class changed the day’s format after learning of Kirk’s killing.

Instead of a lesson on violence in the Middle East, there was an open discussion on peaceful political expression.

“We decided to have that open discussion for him because it’s better to share our ideas with others than to keep such a close-minded thought process on all of it,” Huddleson said.

SEE ALSO: Student Republicans and Democrats at UNL urge unity after Charlie Kirk assassination

Many students said they chose to study politics due to a desire to incite change in the world of policy, and this shooting has motivated them to reflect.

Emma Newton is a junior working on a research project, and the political violence has her changing course.

“This will influence what I will be making a research proposal about,” she said. “Basically, it will be about how political violence and rhetoric are connected.”

SEE ALSO: After Charlie Kirk assassination, UNL professor says college should be place for open debate

Huddleson said no matter how much we disagree with each other, violence is never acceptable.

“Maybe we didn’t like what he said, maybe we did, but we can all still recognize this is a terrible thing that happened, and it’s not something that we should allow to happen anymore,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Rifle recovered in the search for Charlie Kirk’s killer as FBI releases photos of person of interest