BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- Iowa State University fired financial aid advisor Caitlyn Spencer for her controversial social media post claiming that Charlie Kirk 'got what was coming' after his assassination, stating it violated university policies on freedom of expression and ethical obligations.
- The university's president, Wendy Wintersteen, said Spencer's comments caused significant disruption to the university's operations, while also noting Spencer has the option to appeal her termination.
- Spencer had previously signed a letter condemning ISU officials for not taking action against a tweet by College Republicans that was perceived as a threat of violence, which adds complexity to the university's response to political expressions.
Iowa State University has terminated a financial aid advisor who, shortly after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, had posted to social media Kirk “got what was coming.”
Caitlyn Spencer had written “Given Charlie’s previous comments about their ‘necessity’ to protect 2nd amendment rights though, this jackass got what was coming and I’m happy he’s rotting in hell now.”
According to The Gazette, Spencer’s comments went viral “across multiple platforms and attracting millions of views,” including a mention from former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The ISU Board of Regents met last week in a closed session to discuss the matter; on Tuesday it was announced Spencer had been fired.
In the termination letter, ISU President Wendy Wintersteen claimed Spencer had “violat[ed] the Board of Regents’ ‘freedom of expression’ policy and her ‘ethical obligations as a financial aid professional.'”
“Iowa State University has determined that your conduct and continued employment has caused, and is reasonably likely to continue to cause, significant disruption, harm, and adverse impact to the efficient and effective operations of the university,” Wintersteen wrote.
The letter noted Spencer can appeal the firing to the ISU Board of Regents.
The Iowa State Board policy pertaining to free expression states employees “are free to express personal opinions on their personal social media accounts, consistent with the First Amendment and its application to public employees”; however, “under certain circumstances” ISU “may be obligated to act to prevent harm to the university, our campus community, and its mission.”
The post-Kirk murder comments of another ISU academic, Religious Studies Professor George Archer (“Yeah sorry pretty sure we’re all OK with political violence. Every. One. Of. Us”) also caused an uproar, but thus far Archer is still employed.
Ironically, the Gazette notes Spencer had signed on to a letter which “condemned” ISU officials for not taking action against the College Republicans for their tweet “Everyone, you must arm up, expect these people to attempt to destroy your life, the elites want revenge on us” after Joe Biden’s 2020 election.
The letter claimed there was “cause for alarm due to [the tweet’s] implied threat of violence,” and called for a “temporary ban” of the group along with its disaffiliation from the CR’s state federation.
“Perhaps out of fear of litigation, the Iowa State University administration has essentially told the people who feel unsafe on campus as a result of the College Republicans’ tweets that they do not matter,” the letter stated.
MORE: Columbia lecturer calls Charlie Kirk ‘dead Nazi,’ condemns school for flag tribute
MORE: Kansas Dept. of Ed official fired after calling Charlie Kirk’s murder ‘well deserved’
