A college student photographed with a cake mocking Charlie Kirk’s death is at the center of a campus controversy that has prompted the University of Utah to investigate two College Republicans for charges of misconduct after one posted the photo online.
On Sept. 10, 2026, the one-year anniversary of the conservative activist’s public murder, a woman approached a group of College Republicans at an event on the school’s campus and presented them with a cake. The words “Happy Kirkiversary” were written in red icing on the white cake.
Students Riley Beesley, the chairman of the school’s College Republicans chapter, and Rylie Barnes, also a member of the group, took exception to the stunt on a campus less than an hour’s drive from another college campus where Kirk was assassinated last year.
Barnes posted a photo of the cake to her X account, and it quickly went viral and led to an anonymous X user identifying the student as Sara Larsen.
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The school’s College Democrats responded by saying Republicans are “waging a campaign of hate” against them.
On Tuesday, the university sent emails to Beesley and Barnes requesting closed-door meetings Wednesday morning with its Student Rights and Responsibilities office.
“We received information that, if accurate, may go against this priority and the policy on Student Rights and Responsibilities, and I would like to meet and hear your perspective,” says a copy of one of the emails, obtained by Fox News Digital. “The report is regarding an incident that happened on or about September 11, 2026 and allegedly involves you attempting to doxx another University of Utah student over a political issue.”
The email was sent by the office’s assistant director, Jose Morales Diaz.
“Doxxing” is the act of publicly revealing, usually online, the personal information of another person, typically with the intent of causing harm to that individual.
“We will talk about the information our office received, and you will have an opportunity to give your perspective of the incident if you wish. We will also talk about possible next steps, such as resolutions and educational or restorative measures if appropriate,” the email said.
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The emails also prohibited the students from recording the meetings. But shortly before the meetings were scheduled to take place, the university abruptly canceled them, according to Beesley.
Diaz did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“We found it distasteful, vile, and disgusting. Parents, alumni, students and donors deserve to know about the radical political ideologies festering on college campuses in Utah,” Beesley told Fox News Digital of the cake incident.
“Given today’s political climate, mocking or expressing support such as this should be taken incredibly seriously and the public sphere has a right to know about the lack of morality being observed among young Democrats and those on the left.”
He strongly condemned doxxing, and said his group had nothing to do with the release of Larsen’s information. He also condemned political violence.
“We’re observing patterns where those on the left find it comical to make threats, have normalized silencing opposing political viewpoints, and avoid accountability or consequences for glorifying murder,” he said. “This must end.”
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The university told Fox News Digital it can’t comment on student disciplinary action, citing federal law.
But Wednesday night, the school released a statement about the ongoing controversy, which has been going viral online for days and has become a national news story.
“In recent days, a dispute between political groups on the University of Utah campus has resulted in allegations of harassment, threats, and the inappropriate sharing or amplification of personal information. The University of Utah is reviewing these accusations consistent with established policies, due process and applicable law,” the statement said.
“As we conduct this review, the university will continue to simultaneously protect freedom of expression and the safety of our students. Calls to harm someone, including electronic harassment and inappropriate sharing of information, are not protected by free speech,” it continued.
The school also urged the College Democrats and College Republicans groups on campus to convene with leadership in an attempt to better understand one another.
It also condemned violence.
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Beesley was subject to an alleged violent threat on campus earlier this year, when a person threatened to “Kirk” him.
“It was January 12, we were outside tabling and engaging in debates in a format similar to those organized by, let’s say, Turning Point USA,” Beesley told Fox News Digital at the time. “And soon after [he] declared to us, ‘you should die,’ followed by, ‘I am going to Kirk you,’ which you could only think that means I’m either using your imagination going to shoot you or kill you.”
Dean Stewart, then 21, was arrested following the incident. Criminal proceedings against him are ongoing, Beesley said.
An X account with the name Sara Larsen made a post on Sept. 11, 2026, apologizing for the cake stunt. Fox News Digital could not independently verify whether the account owner is the student embroiled in the controversy.
“Upon reflection, it was wrong for me to celebrate, or perpetuate the celebration of, Charlie Kirk’s death. I apologize for doing so sincerely. Nobody should be murdered or persecuted for their speech,” reads the tweet — the only post present on an account with 311 followers that was created in February 2017.
