Protect the Den

On Wednesday Sept. 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. During times like these, it is pertinent that we, as UVU students, remember the following two phrases: “United We Stand,” & “Protect the Den.” 

The phrase, “United We Stand,” has origins in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, but these words specifically were first penned to paper as part of a longer phrase, “By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;” by John Dickinson in The Liberty Song in 1768. 

The words denote a sense of responsibility that each of us has in procuring liberty and safety for all. When individuals reject or forget the sentiment these words carry, catastrophe can much more easily strike. 

The second phrase, “Protect the Den,” can be seen every time a student walks past the campus store. It can be heard at UVU every game. On September 10th, it was put to the test.  

When one hears the word den, it brings up imagery of holes in the ground where animals such as wolverines live. But a den is more than that. A den is also a reference to animals that live inside that hole. 

When Utah Valley University students shout the phrase, “Protect the Den,” it shouldn’t just mean our home-our campus. It should, more importantly, mean our home-our friends, our classmates. Protecting the den is proactive and personal. 

Now, there are those impacted by the events of September 10th. Protect the den by reaching out to them. None of us are to go through trauma alone. Listed below are resources for students dealing with mental health issues, both in general and after this crisis. 

• 988 Crisis Line has a team of trained crisis counselors. Call or text for any reason. 
• TimelyCare is a service provided by UVU for student well-being. Email deanofstudents@uvu.edu to receive support. 
• SafeUT allows individuals to chat with licensed counselors for support. You can also submit tips through them. 
• If you are having a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 

We’re all here together. Let’s stand united and protect our den.