A statement from Columbus State President Stuart Rayfield

September 15, 2025

Monday, Sept. 15, 2025
A Statement from President Stuart Rayfield

I want to address recent social media posts by a member of the Columbus State University community about the recent tragic shooting and death of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

While individuals—students, faculty and staff alike—are entitled to their own personal views under the First Amendment, those views do not represent the university. Nor do they necessarily reflect our values. I regret that these comments have become associated with Columbus State and that they have caused anger online and pain in our community.

Columbus State stands for respectful, civil discourse. As Chancellor Perdue said last week (his statement is below), our role as educators is to prepare students for citizenship in a democracy grounded in both free expression and mutual civility.

In moments like these, our community should not be defined by what divides us, but by how we come together with empathy and respect.

Stuart Rayfield
President

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Thursday, September 11, 2025
A Statement from Chancellor Sonny Perdue on Yesterday’s Events

I’m saddened by the passing of Charlie Kirk, whose voice in the national conversation on free expression reminds us of the importance of protecting open dialogue on our campuses.

Yesterday’s events reminded me just how important it is to protect civil debate and open dialogue on our campuses. As educators, we have a responsibility to ensure that our students, faculty and staff can speak freely and respectfully, without fear of being unlawfully silenced or disrupted.

I believe deeply in the power of the First Amendment. Free speech is not only about the right to speak—it is also about the responsibility to listen. When we teach students to disagree without being disagreeable, we are preparing them for more than careers. We are preparing them for citizenship in a democracy that depends on both free expression and mutual respect.

At the University System of Georgia and our 26 public colleges and universities, we will continue to defend academic freedom and free expression, while also ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn in a respectful and safe environment. That balance is essential to who we are, and to the future we are helping our students shape.

Chancellor Sonny Perdue
University System of Georgia