In October 2024, I attended a UNC Chapel Hill @UNC event featuring Charlie Kirk @charliekirk11 and @VivekGRamaswamy, alongside then-Trustee (now State Auditor) Dave Boliek @NCAuditorBoliek and NC Senator Amy Galey @amyscottgaley. The program was organized by the @TPUSA_UNC Turning Point @TPUSA USA UNC Chapel Hill student chapter.
What struck me most was the tone. Charlie set the ground rules before Q&A, noting that while the audience was “a center-right, predominantly conservative” crowd, all voices would be heard and respected.
He said:
“Do not interrupt, do not boo. If somebody says something you disagree with, please show respect to people that might have different views.”
That call for civility was honored throughout the evening. Students asked tough and often controversial questions — about housing affordability, higher-ed costs, the Electoral College, free speech, foreign policy, immigration, even Trump University and AIPAC. Both speakers answered in real time. It was not a monologue; it was a dialogue.
Charlie reminded the audience of the American system:
“We’re first and foremost a collection of states. The states created the federal government… and today seven very diverse states determine the future of America, not just LA and New York.”
On morals and family life, he was clear:
“Children are a blessing from the Lord. Not an inconvenience.”
Vivek tied the night back to civic life in a way that resonates with UNC’s School of Civic Life and Leadership:
“If we’re going to require immigrants to pass a civics test and swear an oath of allegiance, then it makes sense for every high school senior to be able to pass the same civics test… replacing DEI indoctrination with actual civic education.”
He added:
“The least we could do is demand some skin in the game — that we know the basics about our country before somebody graduates from high school.”
The event reflected something deeper: the founding of the United States itself, forged through vigorous debate, moral conviction, and a shared commitment to civic principles. Our students showed that they can disagree, push back, and challenge ideas without losing their composure or the dignity of the conversation.
Whatever one’s politics, Charlie Kirk’s emphasis on courage, respect, and the American promise is worth carrying forward. UNC should always be a place where ideas are debated vigorously but respectfully, and where civic knowledge is treated as essential to leadership.
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