UAlbany reacts to Kirk assassination ahead of upcoming speaking engagements

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — UAlbany will be hosting their Great Dane Dialogue next week, an annual guest speaker series that celebrates free speech, community discussions, and the respectful sharing of differing opinions. In the wake of the September 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, the university is making preparations to assure the safety of all attendees of the series.

Kirk, a political activist, was shot and killed at a public speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Ahead of their own community events, UAlbany issued a statement to NEWS10 regarding Wednesday’s incident and how they plan to proceed with this year’s series.

“The University has always been committed to providing our students and the campus community with opportunities to engage across differences and learn from one another. The Great Dane Dialogue, hosted around Constitution Day, is designed to promote civil discourse, free speech and constructive conversation,” UAlbany stated. “With hundreds attending last year’s events, the response underscored how important it is to create space for dialogue that encourages reflection and understanding, which is needed now more than ever. University staff have been working with University Police Department (UPD) on safety precautions to help ensure these programs remain a safe and open environment for meaningful discussions.”

The 2025 Great Dane Dialogue series is set to kick off on September 15. You can visit UAlbany’s website to see the full speaker event schedule.