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2h ago

University of Utah Student Arrested After Threats at Campus Debate

Utah leaders are revisiting campus security through a new task force with proposed funding increases.

University of Utah police maintain a presence outside the J. Willard Marriott Library as the Utah Federation of College Republicans holds a Reawaken Tour open mic debate at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.
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Overview

  • The university said Dean Stewart, 21, was arrested by campus police, booked and released, and cited for disorderly conduct, making threats, and disobeying a lawful order.
  • Video and witness accounts show he told conservative debaters they should die, referenced “Kirk,” and mimed cocking and firing a rifle.
  • The confrontation happened during a public forum hosted by ReAwaken USA with the Utah Federation of College Republicans outside the Marriott Library.
  • The incident follows the September assassination of Charlie Kirk at UVU, which prompted a statewide campus security task force and heightened scrutiny of safety at public events.
  • Some outlets reported additional charges and a $1,000 bail based on arrest records, details not confirmed in the university’s statement.