The Republican college students who shared a photo of a student celebrating the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination are no longer facing disciplinary action from the University of Utah.
“Based on the review, I do not believe there are grounds to charge you for a violation of University policy,” an email from a member of the University’s Dean’s Office read. “I will be formally dismissing the case against you and ensuring there is no record in your University file,” ABC4 reported.
The students, Rylie Barnes and Riley Beesley, said they were facing threats of expulsion after they shared a photo of another student holding a cake that read “Happy Kirkiversary.” Beesley is the College Republican chairman, and Barnes is the College Republican vice president at the university.
Beesley said that the student, Sara Larsen, came up to their young College Republicans booth “voluntarily” and “posed for pictures holding her cake mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination.” On Tuesday, Beesley shared an email from the University of Utah’s Dean’s Office that accused him of “attempting to doxx another University of Utah student over a political issue.” Barnes received a similar message.
Barnes shared the image from her personal X account on September 10 with the caption, “What is wrong with students in Utah?” The post amassed over 6.4 million views.
What is wrong with students in Utah?? pic.twitter.com/KBu0jTQErx
— Rylie (@Rylieparis05) September 10, 2026
The school’s College Democrats Chapter issued a statement calling on the university “to create an environment where students can interact without fearing for their safety, and to impose consequences on those who encourage and participate in this behavior.” The chapter said Larsen has faced “thousands of hateful comments doxing her and her family, targeting her appearance, and trying to ruin her life.”
The chapter also said Larsen issued an apology but now “fears for her family’s safety,” has had to “delete several of her accounts,” and is “unable to go to campus.” The College Democrats chapter reportedly deleted their Instagram account after the students’ cases were dropped. The chapter also organized a protest and a petition to “Stop Rylie Barnes.”
Utah Senator Mike Lee rushed to the conservative students’ defense when the controversy erupted, saying, “I cannot believe this is even on the table.” Lee added, “If these two get expelled by the University of Utah, I’ll hire both of them — and then help them find schools where they can complete their degrees without fears of political persecution.”
Beesley thanked the X community for helping get the case dismissed. “We took down the University of Utah,” Beesley shared. “Case fully dismissed because of the outcry on X.”
Barnes echoed the statement: “My case is fully dismissed. This wouldn’t have happened without the outpour of support we received online. Thank you!”
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