BUZZ
A Ball State University employed fired after she posted controversial comments on her personal Facebook account about Charlie Kirk’s assassination received $225,000 to settle her First Amendment lawsuit.
While news of the settlement with BSU’s former Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy Suzanne Swierc was made public last month, the the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana issued a news release May 26 touting the development and bringing to light the actual payout amount.
“As a public university, Ball State cannot fire an employee for protected speech made as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” the group stated. “The settlement resolves Swierc’s claims and provides that she will receive $225,000.”
“The agreement also allows Ball State employees to serve as references for Swierc and provides that, if asked, her supervisors will acknowledge her positive contributions to health promotion and advocacy work at the university.”
The controversy began in September 2025 after Swierc posted: “Let me be clear: if you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can’t be friends. His death is a tragedy, and I can and do feel for his wife and children. I believe in the Resurrection, and while it’s difficult, I can and do pray for his soul.”
“Charlie Kirk’s death is a reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed,” she added in her post. “It does not excuse his death, AND it’s a sad truth. The shooting is a tragedy, and I can and do feel for a college campus experiencing an active shooter situation.”
Swierc went on to cite other school shootings before concluding: “Charlie Kirk excused the deaths of children in the name of the second amendment.”
Although Swierc shared it on her private Facebook profile, it was screenshot, shared on other social media accounts, and went viral. Indiana’s Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita also posted her comments.
Ball State University fired her shortly thereafter.
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, campus leaders on Tuesday sent a message to employees about the settlement, calling it a “modest monetary payment.” The university did not admit fault, but instead argued it was cheaper than going to trial. The university stood behind the decision to fire her in order to protect faculty and staff from harassment.
MORE: BSU firing over Kirk comments emerges as test case in campus free speech debate
