The organization founded by Charlie Kirk is returning to the Utah campus where the conservative commentator was killed to hold a memorial on the first anniversary of his death.

Utah Valley University has also decided to shut down its public campus in Orem that day — Thursday, Sept. 10 — to “provide time and space time for reflection” for students, staff and faculty to use in the way that works best for them. No classes will be held, according to a message to the community.

Some students have pushed back on the closure and the administration’s decision to “hand over our campus” to Turning Point USA for the Kirk memorial event.

But UVU President Jon Anderson said this week that allowing the group on campus aligns with the school’s requirements to allow any organization to host an event — and to not bar groups based on their affiliations.

“As an institution, it’s important that we stay apolitical, that we don’t jump in the fray,” he said. “… Any entity could’ve used that space, and they chose to have that day. And we allowed them to do that.”

Anderson stressed that the event is not sponsored by UVU, though the school did vet the plans and is providing security.

The Turning Point USA “Freedom Built to Last Memorial” will be held at the UCCU Center, 800 W. University Parkway, starting at 6:30 p.m. It will feature a lineup of conservative speakers, whom the organization says are carrying on Kirk’s legacy.

In a news release, Turning Point USA said: “The gathering will honor Charlie as a faith-filled husband, father, and defender of free speech with a memorial that serves as a deliberate act of remembrance and a call for students and supporters to continue his life’s work.”

Kirk was fatally shot during his “Prove Me Wrong” tour appearance at UVU last Sept. 10. About 3,000 attendees had gathered to hear him speak in an open campus courtyard. The man accused of killing him was bound over for trial last week.

Conservative pundit Glenn Beck will speak at the memorial, along with Christian author Frank Turek and Turning Point USA’s Chief Field Officer Andrew Sypher. Also on the agenda is Caleb Chilcutt, who was president of Turning Point’s UVU chapter at the time of Kirk’s death, and is now the Utah representative of the group’s college department.

Turning Point USA also said it will livestream the event on its social media pages.

Anderson, UVU’s president, said the school hosts about 600 events per year, with roughly 160 organized by outside entities.

“We really don’t discriminate,” he said. “And so any organization that wants to come rent or use our space, we have policies and procedures we follow for that.”

The event was reviewed by a campus committee, based on its size and potential for controversy. Campus security and policing, Anderson said, are based on those assessments.

UVU’s Students for a Democratic Society club opposes the memorial and has planned a protest for 6:15 p.m. Thursday, shortly before Turning Point USA’s event begins. In an open letter to Anderson, signed by more than 600 people, the group said the new president is aligning himself with Turning Point USA by allowing the group on campus for the anniversary.

In the letter, they say the memorial “is not in line with an atmosphere of ‘care and consideration,’” quoting Anderson’s campus message. And they argue it gives a platform for a group that the students say perpetuates harm against marginalized communities.

An Instagram post about the letter was quickly flooded with comments.

Some said it wasn’t fair to host the Kirk memorial when educator Sharon McMahon’s commencement speech was canceled this spring.

Others, though, said opposing the Turning Point USA event was “disrespectful” to the Kirk family and those grieving.

Moving forward, Anderson said he doesn’t intend to close campus each year on the anniversary, but felt it was important to do this year for all members of the community.

“There are people in all stages of healing,” he said. “I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of students. Many of them are just ready to move on. Others need a lot of time. … We’re going to leave everybody up to their own processes to sort through.”