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ANALYSIS
As another school year comes to a close, its definitive moment remains the shocking, on-campus assassination of conservative icon Charlie Kirk. Witnessed by a crowd of students and amplified by viral online videos, the horrific incident sent shockwaves through higher education, gripped the nation’s consciousness, and dominated the news cycle for months.
The 2025–26 school year was also defined by intense national debates over higher education curriculum and campus culture. Controversies surrounding language and identity made headlines, highlighted by a Harvard course labeling Stacey Abrams a “political mastermind,” a UC Davis festival canceling a drum circle over cultural appropriation accusations, and a Loyola student newspaper apologizing for using the term “illegal immigrant” to refer to the man who allegedly killed a University of Chicago freshman.
Finally, a College Fix investigation revealed taxpayer-funded Truman Scholarships nearly exclusively launched progressive careers.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, one professor called out his university for its deafening silence.
“There should have immediately been a press release from every school in the United States condemning this act of ideological violence. … Faculty should have been coached on how to explain what freedom of speech looks like, and every classroom should have an entire lecture devoted to why what Charlie was doing was fundamental to the fabric of American society. Instead, hundreds of professors and students celebrated and continue to celebrate.”
Scholars who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder prompted a wave of headlines — and outrage — including at Ball State University, which quickly denounced the messages.
“The administration at Ball State is aware of social media posts by two university employees. Both posts were on the employees’ personal accounts, and the posts do not reflect the culture of our campus nor the enduring values of the university.”
3. ‘Living in complete fear’: Bowdoin College cancels Charlie Kirk vigil after ‘credible’ threat
Tensions ran high after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and conservatives on campus were feeling it, including at Bowdoin College, which canceled conservative students’ vigil for Charlie Kirk on due to a “credible” threat shared by police.
“We went to bed really scared,” one student told The Fix. “I’ve had students come to me crying their eyes out.”
4. Harvard course calls Stacey Abrams a ‘political mastermind’
Once Kirk’s murder fell off the front page, other topics captivated readers — including the absurd news that America’s best and brightest at Harvard were taught that failed politician Stacey Abrams is … a political mastermind.
“From First Lady Michelle Obama to political mastermind Stacy Abrams to Vice President Kamala Harris, Black women have left their stamp on 21st-century politics and grassroots organizing,” the course description for “Race, Gender, and Law through the Archive” says.
5. Loyola newspaper apologizes for calling suspected murderer an ‘illegal immigrant’
In the wake of the senseless and brutal murder of University of Chicago student Sheridan Gorman, Loyola University Chicago newspaper editors declared they are sensitive to the feelings of illegal immigrants accused of murdering one of their peers.
“No human’s existence is illegal, and we quickly changed our wording to reflect that.”
6. Central Michigan U. ends ‘white privilege’ admissions reading after backlash
Sometimes, enough is enough. Such was the case at Central Michigan University. which stopped requiring prospective counseling students to read and discuss a paper about “white privilege” as part of its interview process for admissions.
“Last week, you received an email from us with an article to read ahead of the virtual group interview — you are no longer required to read this article. We will not be discussing it during the interview process.”
7. UC Davis festival apologizes for drum circle: ‘cultural appropriation’
You know it’s bad when even hippie drum circles get the kibosh. Such was the case at UC Davis, where organizers of its annual Whole Earth Festival decided a drum circle was offensive.
“WEF staff is aware of a group of drummers that have congregated near the quad. We acknowledge the harm of cultural appropriation felt by Indigenous communities because of this.”
8. Senator denounces ‘outrageous’ use of worker visas to fill Yale, Dartmouth DEI jobs
Why are so many universities hiring foreign workers? What’s more, why are they hiring them to fill needless DEI jobs? “The intent of the H-1B program was to fill high-skill positions in specialized fields when qualified American workers could not be found. Diversity offices are hardly such positions—they are bureaucratic, not technical, and should not qualify for this visa category.”
9. Taxpayer-funded Truman scholarships spawn 35 Democratic jobs for every 1 Republican job
Why are tax dollars being used to fund Democratic and progressive students’ careers? Exclusive research by The College Fix has shown the federally funded Truman Scholarship helps bankroll the launch of liberal and Democratic careers at the taxpayer’s expense. The program spawns 35 Democratic jobs for every 1 Republican job.
10. ‘Ban on Plato’: Professor says Texas A&M censored materials in contemporary morals class
This controversy was a major brouhaha throughout the spring semester. The crux of the issue centered on Texas’ curriculum crackdown to avoid material advocating race or gender ideology or sexual orientation. Later reports argued the professor’s claims were exaggerated or contrived.
MORE: The 2025-26 campus hate crime hoaxes: A complete roundup
