State and federal lawmakers have turned their eyes toward Iowa’s institutions of higher education as the fallout from right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk’s death continues, with Iowa university employees allegedly joining others online speaking about the incident in a positive light.
Collins identified the social media posts mentioned in the letter as coming from two Iowa State University employees, though the Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to independently verify the posts.
One of the posters stated they are “pretty sure we’re all okay with political violence,” but did not mention Kirk or the shooting.
Universities in Mississippi and South Carolina have already suspended or fired employees for making online comments about Kirk’s death, including Clemson University and the University of Mississippi.
Universities should rebuke violent rhetoric and condemn offensive speech, but they should not impose blanket firings on protected speech.”
As the aftermath of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk’s death continues, state and federal lawmakers have focused on Iowa’s universities, with staff members reportedly joining others online in expressing positive opinions about the incident.
Rep. R-Mediapolis, Taylor Collins, and Sen. The Iowa Board of Regents received a letter this weekend signed by Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, demanding the immediate termination of staff members who “publicly celebrated his killing online.”. “.”.
“Every social media post that contains applause, taunting, and disgusting joy is more upsetting than the one before it,” the letter said. It is disgusting to see such behavior; no American’s death should be celebrated, especially by those tasked with the noble responsibility of educating Iowa’s children. “.”.
While giving a speech in front of an audience at Utah Valley University on behalf of his organization, Turning Point USA, Kirk was shot last week.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to independently confirm the social media posts cited in the letter, but Collins recognized them as being from two Iowa State University staff members.
Not mentioning Kirk or the shooting, one of the posters said that they were “pretty sure we’re all okay with political violence.”. Kirk’s previous remarks regarding the trade-off between gun deaths and 2nd Amendment rights were brought up by the other, who wrote in their post that he “got what was coming” and that they were “happy he’s rotting in hell now.”. “.”.
According to a 2023 Newsweek article, Kirk made the remarks cited in the post in a speech in which he stated that he thought some gun deaths each year were worth having the 2nd Amendment, referring to it as the “cost” of being able to own a gun and “protect our other God-given rights.”. “”.
The university has no comment on the employees, posts, or potential investigation, according to an email from ISU spokesperson Angie Hunt.
Sherry Bates, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, issued a number of statements following the murder, the first of which restated the board’s support for free speech and the idea that “no one should feel unsafe when sharing their views.”. In the second statement she issued in September, she said. 12, that the board was aware of posts made about Kirk by staff members and university students, and that his passing “should not be celebrated.”. “.”.
Bates’ social media statement stated that “these and similar posts are offensive, insensitive, and do not represent the opinions of the Board of Regents or its universities.”. “The remarks go against the Board’s principles of fostering a polite and courteous atmosphere at our public universities. “”.
Such declarations, according to Collins and Evans’ letter, are insufficient to address the issues they have pointed out on Iowa college campuses.
The letter claimed that colleges are no longer “the epicenter of civil debate and respectful discourse, the very pillar of Charlie Kirk’s ethos,” and that the social media posts Collins cited are evidence of how far higher education has deviated from its core purpose. “.”.
According to the letter, “bolsterplate press releases won’t solve the culture problem on our college campuses – only decisive action with a clear red line.”. We are demanding today that any university workers who rejoiced over the passing of a fellow American be fired right away. “.”.
In response to inquiries from the Iowa Capital Dispatch regarding the social media posts and whether the board has confirmed them, Board of Regents spokesperson Josh Lehman wrote in an email that he has nothing more to add to Bates’ remarks from last week.
Lehman’s email, a late addition to the September agenda, stated that the board will enter closed session on Wednesday morning. Agenda for 17-18 meeting.
As stated in the notice of the closed session, the board will examine matters concerning student and employee records and “assess the professional competence of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered as necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputations.”. According to the notice, they will also talk about matters pertaining to ongoing or impending litigation.
Employees at Clemson University and the University of Mississippi, among other universities in South Carolina and Mississippi, have already been suspended or fired for posting remarks regarding Kirk’s death online.
America, the U.S. A. spokesman for a global nonprofit organization that defends free speech issued a statement expressing concern over the loss of jobs among U.S. faculty and staff. S. . for sharing content about Kirk, from Tennessee to Florida and beyond.
As stated in the release, “knee-jerk dismissals” of faculty and staff for online remarks “raise concerns about institutions responding to political pressure and social media outrage” instead of reviewing cases with due process and the same standards, according to Kristen Shahverdian, PEN America Program Director for Campus Free Speech.
A vital safeguard for academic freedom and scholarship is the wide latitude granted to faculty in particular to express their opinions on current affairs. However, administrators create a precedent that will be used to silence academics and students from all backgrounds when they dismiss faculty for social media comments, regardless of how offensive or topical the speech is, Shahverdian stated in the statement. These terminations have an impact outside of campus, fostering a culture of fear throughout the general public. While universities should denounce offensive speech and denounce violent rhetoric, they shouldn’t fire protected speech outright. “.”.
