When Pitt junior Julia Cassidy learned that Mr. Kirk had died, she said she walked out of class and began shaking.

At first, Ms. Cassidy, president of Pitt’s College Republicans, didn't understand why she was having such a reaction. She said she quickly realized it was because he was a “rallying force” behind the modern conservative movement on many campuses.

“He is one of us,” Ms. Cassidy said. “That is what we do on our campus. No matter what we thought about him personally or the way he went about doing what he did, the goal of the College Republicans is the same as his — to create a space for dialogue and have conversations.”

Ms. Cassidy said she and other students have feared for their safety on campus since the shooting.

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Ally Aufman, a CMU junior and vice president of the College Republicans, said she was afraid to attend class after Mr. Kirk’s death. She was present at the Butler rally in July 2024 where Trump was shot and an attendee was killed.

“On a campus like CMU, I am fearful of putting my views out there,” she said. “I’ve lost friends and relationships with people … because of the views I have. It’s sad that this is reality, but I won’t stop being who I am.”