Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk visited the Memorial Union Quad to debate Oregon State University students Friday afternoon as part of his college tour.

Kirk is a right-wing political activist, author and radio host best known for his viral moments. Most recently, he went viral for debating 20 college students in a YouTube video produced by Jubilee.

OSU was one of his many stops on his fall 2024 college tour, dubbed the “You’re Being Brainwashed Tour.”

“We call it 'you're brainwashed' because no one really thinks anymore. They’re just being told what to think,” said Rilie Anderton, a local representative for Turning Point USA.

Kirk is the founder of TPUSA, a student-centered conservative organization with numerous club chapters on college campuses across the country. Wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats, OSU TPUSA members handed out event flyers to the crowd and encouraged attendees to register to vote.

Upon his arrival, Kirk was ushered in from the west side of the courtyard by a team of security personnel. Kirk entered a blue pop-up tent in the center of the court and began tossing several MAGA hats to cheering fans.

The event had a question-and-answer debate format, with audience members lining up behind a microphone to ask a question. Kirk addressed topics such as abortion, religion, LGBTQ+ rights and the upcoming presidential election.

Police Chief Shanon Anderson said the crowd fluctuated throughout the day but estimated there were about 350 people in attendance at any one time. The participants consisted of students, faculty and the public.

Vipin Arora, a senior lecturer in the College of Business, attended the event in hopes of meeting Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate who challenged Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primary. To Arora's disappointment, Ramaswamy did not show up.

“It is good that we are having such debates,” said Arora. “We hear opinions from very different people.”

Kaitlynn Donald traveled all the way from Kelso, Washington with her two young children, ages three and six. Donald said that she and her children are fans of Kirk and watch him on YouTube.

Witnesses reported that the crowd was polite, despite occasional objections from passersby.

As he was on his way to visit his girlfriend at MU, local business owner Greg Meyer asked the crowd not to pay attention to Kirk.

“Their whole approach is basically to bring in people who are really passionate but maybe not particularly eloquent about really controversial topics,” Meyer said. “Then they edit it to make themselves look even stupider.”

There were friendly counter-protests during the event. Pastor Rob Kirby, executive director of WestM, a campus ministry, handed out free Otter Pops next to a sign that read, “Taste the Rainbow: Otter Pops for LGBTQ & Allies.”

Siena Buchanan, a third-year biology student, handed out bingo cards with boxes like “Communism bad!” “Woke” and “deep state” must be checked off when you hear the phrase or talking point.

Buchanan explained that she conducts counter-protests “in a way that lifts the mood and brings more joy to people's day, rather than just bringing people down.”

—Photographer Taya Etzell contributed to this story

Freshman students Uriel Aguayl (left) and Brendan Vosburg watch Charlie Kirk's “You're Being Brainwashed” tour from the Java Stop balcony at Oregon State University on Oct. 11.