Kendall Moffett | Staff Writer
Instead of advocating for the diverse student bodies across Florida’s public Universities, officials want to promote late conservative commenter Charlie Kirk– plastering his image on campus roads. This isn’t just coercive; it’s an insult to the marginalized communities Kirk repeatedly targeted.
Starting Jan. 13, 2026, Florida’s public institutions are required to rename specific roads or portions in honor of Charlie Kirk. To force compliance, the state will withhold funding from any university if they fail to rename roads within 90 days.
This is blatant coercion by the state; an act that actively muffles student expression and undermines symbols of inclusion for marginalized communities. As an African American woman, I see this as not just a bill, but an outright repulsive proposal.
Once this bill takes effect, Florida International University will be forced to rename Southwest 17th Street as Charlie James Kirk Street, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
This is deeply unsettling, as FIU could lose funding if students and faculty oppose this change. Especially given FIU’s international and diverse student body, agreeing to this bill feels demeaning, as Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric is widely harmful and discriminatory towards them.
I wouldn’t want to step foot in, let alone align myself with a university that endorses those derogatory messages. This isn’t just about a road name, it’s an indication of who gets to be heard and who gets silenced.
To make matters worse, this bill is completely hypocritical, favoring only those who support his conservative and condescending values. Many public institutions in Florida such as University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida and FIU have not renamed roads in honor of democratic figures, deceased or living.
As an African American woman, it bothers me knowing the amount of praise Charlie Kirk receives towards this bill, despite the derogatory speech he long advocated for. Now he’s being celebrated amongst figures like MLK, with road-names across Florida’s public universities.
This bill should be opposed by all Florida universities, especially FIU, to respect and protect the dignity of students targeted by Charlie Kirk through his Turning Point USA campaign and public rhetoric.
Additionally, FIU should listen to their students and take their voices seriously– we are the ones who live, learn and shape the university community every day. And I expect my university to stand with their students, not ignore them.
FIU should publicly announce their opposition to the bill, collaborate with other Florida institutions to challenge it, and prepare a contingency plan if the state withholds funding.
FIU is a place for learning and connection– not a political playground for scoring points. Let’s keep it that way.
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About Post Author
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Gabriela Danger is currently the Opinion section editor of PantherNOW. She is a journalism major in her fourth year, and hopes to go into editing or publishing after undergrad. Besides writing and editing she enjoys music, reading, and nature.