Case against students facing expulsion for exposing 'Kikiversary' cake stunt dropped

Riley Beesley and Riley Barnes.

Two college students who faced potential expulsion from the University of Utah after posting a photo on social media showing another student holding a cake that read "Happy Kirkiversary" will remain at the school and won't face discipline, according to a letter from the university's associate vice president dean of students. 

The uproar began on September 10, one year to the day after Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, about an hour away from the University of Utah. Rylie Barnes posted a photo on social media showing another student smiling and holding a cake with the words "Happy Kirkiversary" written in icing on it. 

The student holding the cake, Sara Larsen, was then doxxed and faced threats, leading some to call for Barnes, who is the vice president of the campus College Republicans chapter, and another student, Riley Beesley, a chairman of the College Republicans, to be expelled. Larsen apologized for the cake stunt. The university then opened an investigation and met privately with both Barnes and Beesley.

On Thursday, Barnes and Beesley were told they would face no disciplinary action. Barnes posted on X a copy of the email she received from Jason Ramirez, the university's associate VP dean of students, who said, "I will be formally dismissing the case against you and ensuring there is no record in your University file."

Barnes had told local TV station KUTV that she didn't condone Larsen being doxxed and that she and Beesly had nothing to do with her identity being revealed. 

"TOTAL COLLEGE REPUBLICAN VICTORY," Barnes wrote on X, adding that the outpouring of support helped call attention to the case. 

The school said it remains in support of free speech, including that which is offensive or upsetting, according to KUTV. 

The Utah College Republicans said in a post on X that Barnes and Beesley were "Two American Patriots," earlier on Thursday, and then celebrated the outcome with the post seen below.