University of Utah Student Arrested After Alleged Threats Against Conservative Speakers
Salt Lake City, UT – A student at the University of Utah was taken into custody Monday following an incident involving alleged threats made toward conservative speakers on campus. The episode unfolded during a public debate held outside the university’s Marriott Library.
Dean Stewart, 21, now faces charges of disorderly conduct, making threats, and disobeying a lawful order, according to the University of Utah Police Department.
A video circulating on social media appears to show Stewart making gestures interpreted as simulating gunshots directed at speakers associated with Reawaken USA, a conservative organization visiting the University of Utah.
James Owen, founder, president, and CEO of Reawaken USA, said that Stewart approached them during a debate and hurled insults and threats, including “Nazi pigs” and “someone should shoot you in the neck,” and “I should f—— kill you,”. He said Stewart made multiple gun motions towards them.
University officials confirmed the arrest and stated that Stewart “disrupted an event,” told the speakers they “should be shot in the neck,” and “repeatedly made hand gestures of shooting [them] with a rifle.”
Aden Nicholas, a speaker with Reawaken USA, said that Stewart stated “hoped we get shot in the neck.”
Owen expressed gratitude for the swift response of law enforcement, who apprehended Stewart and sought the organization’s willingness to press charges.
Despite the disruption, Reawaken USA continued its tour. Owens noted an incident in which one of the students stepped in during Stewart’s apparent outburst.
“One of those students who was extremely hostile came up to the mic, actually stopped [Stewart] before he went out to do [the shooting motion] the second time,” Owens said. “Security heard them say, ‘Hey dude, I know we don’t agree with these guys, but they seem really nice. I don’t think you should do that.”
The incident raises concerns about the climate of discourse on college campuses. The ability to engage in respectful dialogue, even when differing opinions are present, is a cornerstone of a free society.
Some worry that universities, often seen as bastions of free thought, are increasingly becoming echo chambers where dissenting voices are silenced or even threatened. This trend, if left unchecked, could undermine the very principles of open inquiry and intellectual exchange that higher education is meant to foster.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of civility and respect in political discourse. It also highlights the need for universities to ensure that all students and speakers are able to express their views without fear of intimidation or violence. A healthy democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas, and that exchange can only occur in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance.
The case against Stewart will proceed through the legal system. It remains to be seen what consequences he will face. Regardless of the outcome, the incident has sparked a debate about the state of free speech on college campuses and the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals to express their views without fear of reprisal.
