When a University of Utah student attempted to troll the campus chapter of the College Republicans by exploiting the tragic death of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, the vicious stunt generated more blowback than she bargained for.
On Sept. 10, 2026, one year from the date that Charlie Kirk was horrifically assassinated on the nearby Utah Valley University campus, Utah student Sara Larsen approached members of the campus College Republicans chapter while they were tabling on campus and attempted to hand them a cake celebrating Kirk’s annihilation. The white cake was decorated with blood red icing reading “Happy Kirkiversary.”
Horrified at the vicious stunt, Utah College Republicans Vice President Rylie Barnes snapped a photo of Larsen holding the cake and posted it on her X account.
“What is wrong with students in Utah??” Barnes asked—a very good question indeed.
While Barnes did not identify Larsen by name, the post quickly went viral and generated an outpouring of anger among conservatives. A conservative X account going by the name “Aesthetica” was able to identify Larsen and posted information about her online, as well as the name and employer of Larsen’s father.
“Meet Sara Larsen,” Aesthetica’s post read. “Sara thought it was funny to bake a cake and show up to a Charlie Kirk memorial celebrating his murder.”
What happened next should shock even the most jaded observer of leftwing campus idiocy. The University of Utah administration sent an official letter to the Utah College Republicans demanding a meeting to determine whether they had violated university policy by “attempting to dox another University of Utah student over a political issue.” In the eyes of the university, the public blowback Sara Larsen received over her “Happy Kirkiversary” cake was the fault of the College Republicans—because they posted a picture of it.
The university was attempting punish the College Republicans for exposing Larsen’s public celebration of Charlie Kirk’s death.
“The University of Utah wants to EXPEL us over ‘Threatening or endangering behavior,’ College Republicans VP Rylie Barnes posted on X. “This is wrong and an attempt to silence Republican voices. Sara voluntarily came up to our booth and posed for pictures holding her cake mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination.”
The university’s reprehensible attempt to punish the College Republicans generated an even larger wave of social media outrage, with numerous prominent conservative voices calling out the administration’s unconstitutional efforts to silence the voices of conservatives on campus.
“WTF?! The University of Utah student who CELEBRATED Charlie Kirk’s assassination in a viral photo is now trying to get Rylie, the patriotic student who called her out, EXPELLED,” wrote Nick Sortor, a conservative journalist, on X. “@UUtah better choose their next steps WISELY unless they want DOJ involved.”
“I cannot believe this is even on the table” wrote Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah on X. Lee called the University’s persecution of the College Republicans “indefensible” and “unbelievably absurd”—and promised to hire members of the College Republicans if they were expelled.
Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Charlie Kirk, also reached out to provide legal representation to the Utah College Republicans, who were initially told that they would not even be allowed to record their meeting with the administration.
Aided by a bevy of attorneys and the voices of powerful lawmakers, the University of Utah quickly backed down on their threats, initially cancelling the first meeting they demanded with the College Republicans and ultimately dismissing the disciplinary charges entirely.
“WE TOOK DOWN THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH,” Rylie Barnes posted in elation on X. “Case fully dismissed because of the outcry on X and expert legal services from @JakeLeei. Thank you, @nicksortor & @MrsErikaKirk we wouldn’t have won without you. Students: Cherish Charlie Kirk’s legacy, do not celebrate his murder.”
Meanwhile, leftwing groups at the University of Utah also jumped into the fray, holding protests to pressure the university to decharter the College Republicans for their alleged infractions of university rules. Members of the College Democrats reportedly shared detailed personal information about the College Republicans including their class schedules. College Republicans VP Rylie Barnes reported receiving death threats as a result. Oddly, the Utah administration did not investigate these very real instances of “doxing” as violations of the campus code of conduct.
For her part, Larsen has apologized for the cake stunt. “Yesterday I made a joke about Charlie Kirk’s murder,” she wrote. “Upon reflection, it was wrong for me to celebrate, or perpetuate the celebration of, Charlie Kirk’s death. I apologize for doing so sincerely. Nobody should be murdered or persecuted for their speech.”
While the Utah College Republicans ultimately prevailed in their battle with the campus administration, the University’s attempt to silence campus conservatives who were the victims of a heinous stunt celebrating a political assassination reveals the rot at the heart of academia. It should not take the intervention of conservative lawmakers and attorneys to ensure that conservative students retain their free speech rights on campus.