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OPINION/ANALYSIS
College campuses saw no shortage of controversial or ideologically charged events during the 2025-26 school year. From calls to hire transgender journalists and dismantle capitalism to a “two-spirit storyteller,” college campuses engaged in a wide range of absurdity. Here are the top 10 craziest campus events The College Fix covered over the past year:
1. ‘Hire trans people’: ASU event criticizes conservative media coverage of LGBT issues
Speakers called for more transgender journalists and criticized “conservative media” for its “politicized” coverage of gender issues during an online event in April hosted by the Center for Media and Communities at Arizona State University.
Chelsea Reynolds, director of the Center for Media and Communities, said the event aimed to “celebrate transness” and counter “harmful narratives that places like Turning Point …. Catalyze.”
Reynolds also told attendees that transgender individuals need to insert themselves into the journalism sphere to report on national issues affecting the community.
“We need queer reporters on our teams … We need to hire trans people to tell trans stories and to tell other stories, housing stories, health stories, political stories, all the stories,” Reynolds said.
2. ‘Blow up ports’: ‘Muslim anarchist’ ex-professor calls for ‘death to America’ at Virginia Tech
A former Columbia University professor, who was sanctioned for supporting terrorist groups, spoke to Virginia Tech students Friday, calling for “a total end to U.S. empire.”
“When we say Death to America, we mean, and loud and clear, a total end to U.S. empire,” Mohamed Abdou told the students, according to a video of the event posted to X by investigative analyst Stu Smith.
“The destruction of this crusading settler colony, their entire project,” Abdou said.
The event was held on campus, though Abdou appeared virtually. Ahead of the event, Virginia Tech wrote on X that the talk is not “university sanctioned or sponsored.”
3. UC Santa Cruz ‘queer’ philosophy event offers ‘glam surprises’ and activist training
The University of California Santa Cruz is hosting its second annual Queer Analytic Philosophy Conference in June. One philosophy professor told The College Fix the event will essentially be a training for “left-wing activists.”
The conference is set to include “a poster session” for students, “a workshop on LGBTQIA+ activism,” a party, and “other glam surprises” in addition to talks by “queer” scholars.
4. At least 17 Catholic colleges host pro-LGBT ‘Lavender Graduations’: report
A recent report from the Cardinal Newman Society revealed that at least 17 Catholic colleges hosted “Lavender Graduations” as separate ceremonies celebrating graduating LGBTQ students.
The Cardinal Newman Society, which promotes faithful Catholic education, criticized the events for promoting lifestyles that conflict with Catholic teaching.
The schools included Georgetown University, Gonzaga University, University of San Francisco, Boston College, Marquette University, St. John’s University, and College of the Holy Cross, among others.
5. Capitalism ‘did its job’— now it’s time to replace it: Arizona State U. event
During an Arizona State University event in February, a professional futurist argued that capitalism, while once effective, no longer fits society’s emerging values and needs to be replaced by new economic systems.
Capitalism “did its job … but as you look at the emerging future, it doesn’t fit anymore,” University of Houston professor Andy Hines said during the event titled “Imagining After Capitalism.”
He pushed for three replacements to capitalism, including “redistribution.”
6. ‘Queering spirituality’: Catholic University of San Diego hosts ‘Two-Spirit storyteller’
The Catholic University of San Diego hosted an LGBT activist who discussed the topic of “queering spirituality” in April.
According to the university’s announcement, Juan Angel Reynoso “is shlaa (Two-Spirit) Ipai-Kumeyaay from the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians.” He also uses the term “nemuuly,” or “bear,” to identify himself.
7. University play ‘A Gay in a Manger’ features Jesus as ‘King of Gays,’ Three Wise Men as drag queens
In December, the LGBTQ Network at the U.K.’s York St. John University put on a “gay nativity story” titled “A Gay in a Manger.”
According to the performance’s description via the York St. John Students’ Union, “a long time ago in a far away land, a magnificent Angel, paid a heavenly visit to Mary and Jo who were … very close friends.”
“Soon afterwards, Queen Herod sent out a royal proclamation, calling for a mandatory party across the land. Mary and Jo packed their pride flags and set off on the long journey to the best gay club this side of the Red Sea – Heaven,” the description states.
8. UMass Amherst hosts ‘queering menopause’ ‘storytelling’ event
University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers invited lesbians and gender-confused women to share their menopause stories at a “digital storytelling” event in January.
“‘Queering Menopause: Building Collaboration for Understanding Menopause Among Sexual and/or Gender Minority People’ invites participants to tell their stories related to being in the peri/menopausal stage of their lives,” an announcement stated.
Participants were awarded $300 and their own “1- to 3-minute digital story related to their experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community who is in the peri/menopausal phase of life.”
9. ASU professor calls U.S. history a ‘400-year’ pattern of ‘reproductive oppression’
The U.S. has a 400-year history of “reproductive oppression” targeting black women, Arizona State University Professor Jenny Brian said during a Zoom event hosted by the school in February.
She criticized the U.S. for what she described as efforts to “criminalize reproductive outcomes,” as they disproportionately affect black women.
“And so what we’ve seen is that the struggle for bodily autonomy is not a series of isolated events, but a 400-year-old conversation about who is considered human enough to own their own body and to plan their reproductive futures,” she said.
The event, titled “What is Reproductive Justice?,” was hosted by Barrett, the Honors College, at ASU.
10. Pitt officials demand College Fix journalist delete audio recordings from public ‘trans’ event
The University of Pittsburgh hosted a “Trans Day of Vibing” event featuring various LGBTQ organizations, offering resources for trans-identifying individuals.
One of the groups at the event, Trans YOU Niting PGH, aims to provide “affirming and accessible resources for Black transgender women and other transgender individuals” and “safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth,” according to its website.
The event was initially advertised as open to all, but a journalist from The College Fix was pressured to delete interviews conducted with participants.
Despite obtaining prior consent from participants and lawful access to the event, the journalist faced demands from university administration to delete recordings, raising concerns about First Amendment rights.
