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University of Utah Dismisses Misconduct Charges Against Two Republicans

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 12:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

University of Utah dismissed misconduct charges against two College Republicans on Sept 17, 2026.
College Republicans posted a photo of Sara Larsen with a “Happy Kirkiversary” cake on Sept 10, 2026.
Online users identified Larsen’s personal details, prompting accusations of doxxing.
The university emailed Riley Beesley and Rylie Barnes on Sept 11, 2026, citing threatening or endangering behavior.
Students protested on Sept 16, 2026, demanding accountability for the College Republicans.

History

Historical Context

In June 1997 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9-0 decision in Reno v. ACLU, striking down the 1996 Communications Decency Act’s anti-indecency provisions and establishing protection for online speech. The September 2026 University of Utah dismissal of misconduct charges against its College Republicans revived campus-speech debates, echoing the Court’s call for policies that balance political expression with protection from online harassment.

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Story summary

University of Utah dismissed misconduct charges against two College Republicans on Sept 17, 2026.
College Republicans posted a photo of Sara Larsen with a “Happy Kirkiversary” cake on Sept 10, 2026.
Online users identified Larsen’s personal details, prompting accusations of doxxing.
The university emailed Riley Beesley and Rylie Barnes on Sept 11, 2026, citing threatening or endangering behavior.
Students protested on Sept 16, 2026, demanding accountability for the College Republicans.

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