September 11, 2025 - The Phi Beta Kappa Society strongly condemns the murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday while expressing his views on a college campus. We extend our condolences to those affected by the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
Higher education exists to examine complex issues, challenges, and ideas. It should provide a forum in which issues and opinions can be explored and openly debated without the threat of violence. The arts and sciences are a distinctively American form of education that exposes students to ideas that may challenge or unsettle their understanding of themselves or the world around them—including ideas that some may regard as “divisive.”
Since 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has championed the liberal arts and sciences — rooted in free inquiry and expression — as essential to a flourishing democracy and vibrant culture. The Society urges colleges and universities to embrace free expression as fundamental to the pursuit and advancement of knowledge, while addressing the challenges of our time with constructive engagement. Institutions of higher learning must exemplify “vigorous civility,” fostering an environment where disagreement is met with respect rather than delegitimization and where difficult conversations begin with a commitment to shared values and common ground.