Charlie Kirk visited UT’s Etter-Harbin Alumni Center on Wednesday as part of  the “Live Free” tour for Turning Point USA —  a conservative nonprofit dedicated to promoting freedom for students.

Kirk, Turning Point founder and president, is a featured speaker for the tour which empowers college students across the country to “combat radical left-wing propaganda and defend conservative values in the classroom, on the court and online,” according to the organization’s website.

“I think it’s amazing that (Kirk) comes into a college that he knows is predominantly liberal,” said Aaron Lelek, a biology and philosophy senior. “I think it’s really great for students to hear.”

While Kirk began to talk to students on campus, some students attempted to play loud music to drown him out.

“He definitely knows that this isn’t exactly his target audience,” English freshman Zack Rieter said. “But I think that’s his goal. A part of his business model is … arguing with people … and it’s just a part of his online personality to go to these events and share his beliefs.”

At the “Live Free” tour, Kirk said that the lockdowns during COVID-19 had a direct correlation with “generational carnage” which he claimed turned Gen Z into  “the most depressed, suicidal, alcohol-addicted and psychiatric drug-addicted generation in history.” 

“I don’t really like how (Kirk) came here and purposely chose to rile up a school with students who are known to be liberal,” fashion freshman Arianna Jenkins said.

During audience questions, Kirk claimed the COVID-19 vaccine has adverse effects. He also said that a Pfizer booster shot was tested on only eight mice. CBS-17 fact-checked this claim and found that while the BA.5 booster was tested on eight mice, it is very similar to the BA.1 booster which has already been proven safe.

When asked about abortion, Kirk said “a being that begins at conception is worthy of constitutional rights and protection.”  

“I think a lot of (the things Kirk says) are fundamentally from his own words rooted in religion,” Rieter said. “When you choose your own religion to base your entire moral and political beliefs off of, it alienates a large portion of your potential audience and is not a very effective way of going about discourse.”