OREM, Utah — Faculty members returned to campus at Utah Valley University on Monday, and students are set to return to class Wednesday.
But the courtyard, which played host to such a shocking tragedy less than a week ago, will have a different look to it than these Wolverines may remember.
“I saw the memorial, smelt the flowers. It reminded me of when my uncle passed away and we were going to the funeral. It gave me the same jitters," said Alexander Woltjen.
Thinking classes resumed on Monday, Woltjen returned to campus early.
“It's weird to be at a sort of ground zero, where something like this happened," he said.
It's a spot that is now steeped in sorrow.
“I think it’ll all be OK eventually. But it’s just kind of sad," said Katie Hasara, whose husband works at UVU and her son was at Wednesday's event. “There’s some anger and some disbelief. His first words were, ‘Nobody deserves to die like that.’”
As they did on Friday, students were able to pick up items left in classrooms and on campus in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s incident. The school is also making mental health counselors available to students if their possessions cause them anguish. Therapy dogs are also available.
Other resources being made available can be accessed through the university's student services, along with the SafeUT app, and virtual support through the school's Timely Care platform.
As crews work to restore the space from crime scene back into courtyard, Gov. Spencer Cox hopes this can be a fresh start for student bodies across the state.
“Campuses like yours must be a place of the free exchange of ideas. It’s critical to our American experiment," he said in a video message on Monday. “Right now, it may feel like rage is the only language in our politics, but you have the power to choose differently."
WATCH: Cox offers message to Utah students after Charlie Kirk shooting
That rage is something Woltjen has thought about a lot the past few days as a political science major.
“I’ve criticized Biden and Trump together. Now I took down all my Facebook posts. I feel like I need to be more quiet," he said.
UVU President Astrid Tuminez says student services will be available Tuesday ahead of classes starting.
And as the healing process continues, the university just announced plans for a vigil for unity to take place on campus this Friday.
WATCH: UVU employees somberly return to campus after shooting
For 13 years, David Phillips has gotten up and headed to work with the business and finance department at Utah Valley University.
On Monday, for Phillips, it was different.
“The heart is racing, and it’s not something any of us expected,” he shared.
Before heading to the office, Phillips walked to the memorial set up in honor of Charlie Kirk with flowers in hand on the day that all school employees returned to the Orem campus.
“It’s hard, for sure,” Phillips admitted.
The tragedy of Kirk’s death continues to weigh heavily at the school, with more and more people showing up to the memorial.
“Thoughts and opinions are second to humanity and love,” said Phillips. “Wednesday is [about] good will triumph evil."
FBI prepares resources ahead of students returning to UVU campus:
Phillips and other employees say they're focused on moving forward and leaning on each other.
“I think returning to work is a big part of that," he said.
“They’ve been doing amazing work, information all the time," said Phillips' coworker, Susanne Hallin Sowa, "and they’ve done a great job, and I’m grateful for that, and I’m sure they will take care of the students."
In a statement shared on Friday, Tuminez said, "This is a defining moment for us all. May we not let hatred overshadow the goodness of our UVU community and what we stand for."
