The University of Maryland’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) chapter hosted a former Green Beret on Thursday night.

The event generated the largest turnout of the semester for CUFI, according to the chapter’s president. 

Nicholas Marks, CUFI’s capital region engagement coordinator, said that the University of Maryland SGA’s recent condemnation of a Students Supporting Israel event, featuring three former members of the Israeli Defense Forces, partially contributed to the attendance spike.

“The chilling effect that SGA was trying to have on free speech has actually had the opposite effect, where people are getting more involved because they’re reading the news about SGA censoring people,” Marks said.

Former Special Forces Sgt. and CUFI director Kirby Calhoun spoke for 90 minutes about the future for Christians and Israel, ranging from conservative infighting and methods for improving campus dialogue.

The former Green Beret first described his 13 years of service, split across Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia. He worked in intelligence operations and informant management for 17 months during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He continued in Afghanistan’s Panjwayi district in Operation Enduring Freedom. He credited that work as essential for learning how to discuss Israel.

Calhoun first worked with CUFI after enrolling at the University of West Florida. He had to push himself to found the school’s chapter and not back down from the challenge.

“I didn’t want to do a college chapter after serving in the military. But when God told me to do it, I knew I had to do it with conviction…Being a 30 year old veteran, I didn’t have a lot of college-aged friends. I felt way out of my comfort zone,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun focused his speech on the rise of antisemitism in conservative media. He noted that, while he “100%” disagrees with far-right streamer Nick Fuentes, silencing other voices is less meaningful than winning debates about the issue. He emphasized the urgency of pushing back against anti-Israel discourse across the country.

“The conservative party is melting down over the Israel issue. There is a catastrophe of moral clarity,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun found the aftermath of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s murder particularly troubling. He first heard the news while in Israel and watched conspiracy theories go viral in the following hours, blaming Israel and Jewish donors for the killing.

“The most tangible means of changing perspective among conservatives is mandating open dialogue. Charlie Kirk was a great advocate for creating dialogue in a space,” Calhoun said.

Junior Noah Davidson admired Calhoun’s commitment to debating ideas even after a major U.S. political assassination.

“Kirby demonstrated that it’s ok to feel alone at times, but as long as you still conduct yourself and understand that you are still strong with your morals, that is what’s most important,” Davidson said.

Calhoun’s work as a director also impacted UMD’s chapter. Marks explained that Calhoun served as a mentor figure when he first got involved.

“I would not be doing what I’m doing without him…Kirby is one of the few people who actually cares enough to throw his hat in the ring and take the slings and arrows,” Marks said.

CUFI is partnering with Students Supporting Israel and two other groups for their next event on Nov. 19.