Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the University of North Texas (UNT) over allegations that the university has failed to take disciplinary action against students who celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and reportedly threatened other students.
Paxton’s office sent a follow-up letter this week to UNT President Harrison Keller, criticizing the university for inaction and requesting detailed answers regarding the alleged incidents. The investigation comes after Paxton’s initial Sept. 19 letter, which called on UNT to review the conduct of students and faculty involved in the events.
“In the face of left-wing terror being celebrated and the threatening of students, UNT leadership has chosen to do next to nothing. That’s outrageous,” Paxton said in a statement. “Thus far, there have been zero school officials fired, zero students expelled, and zero accountability from UNT as the campus is overrun by left-wing extremists violently threatening anyone who disagrees with them. I will continue to investigate this matter and use the full weight of this office to stop this madness.”
The investigation centers on incidents following Kirk’s death on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University. According to reports, a group of UNT students celebrated a video of the shooting, prompting classmate Mary-Catherine Hallmark to confront them. Hallmark posted TikTok videos describing the incident, stating she argued with her peers before a professor told her to “take this outside.” She said she reported the event to the dean of students and her department chair but felt the university’s response was insufficient.
Paxton’s letter also highlights alleged ongoing “radical leftist activity” on campus, including a student reportedly shredding materials from a Turning Point USA table and posters promoting militant movements. Paxton urged UNT to expel the students involved, writing, “Educational institutions cannot be incubators of violent radical leftists. Therefore, I implore you to take the only proper disciplinary action against the students who celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk: expulsion.”
UNT has not publicly responded to Paxton’s follow-up letter. In its initial statement following the Sept. 19 letter, the university said, “The recent actions of a few of our community members regarding Mr. Kirk’s death do not represent the values of our community,” and noted that students who violate the code of conduct “will be held accountable.” The university did not confirm whether any investigation or disciplinary measures were underway.
The Paxton investigation follows broader political pressures on Texas universities regarding student and faculty conduct. Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott criticized a Texas State University student who mocked Kirk’s death, calling for immediate expulsion. Other campuses, including Texas A&M and Texas Tech University, have faced scrutiny over classroom content and faculty conduct, prompting administrative reviews and policy adjustments.
