6 minutes ago Maria Vollom ,

DULUTH, Minn. — Political tensions on college campuses continue to rise, with students often caught between free speech and fierce backlash. The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has reignited those debates, especially for one former UMD student who once led a chapter of Kirk’s organization.

Charlie Kirk built a national movement by engaging young conservatives — including students at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

One of them was Sam Spanier. Spanier was on his way to class at his new college when he saw the headlines: Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, had been assassinated.

Spanier had once led a chapter of that same organization at UMD.

“I immediately went to the chapel here on campus, and I just started praying,” Spanier sai

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