Scholar said her comments have been taken out of context and her intention had been to condemn gun violence
A faculty union and online petition are calling for the rehiring of an adjunct professor from Rider University fired for her comments about the assassination of conservative activists Charlie Kirk.
“Stand with Professor Kate Ecke. Stand with free speech. Stand on the right side of history,” states an online petition to reinstate the scholar on Change.org, arguing she “was wrongfully terminated … because of her political beliefs.”
A news release from Rider’s American Association of University Professors chapter stated there “is no requirement that one’s speech as a private citizen meet someone else’s notion of ‘respectful and civil engagement’ or that one’s speech not lead to violent threats from irresponsible third parties.”
“We should all be outraged by the University’s actions in this case. If they can fire an adjunct for what they say as a private citizen, they can fire any of us for what we say.”
Ecke was terminated Sept. 17 due to her Facebook comments, which campus leaders say led to threats against the university.
President John Loyack sent a university-wide email stating, “Today Rider University took swift and decisive action to terminate an adjunct faculty member whose behaviour did not reflect our expectations for respectful and civil engagement,” according to an article by The Rider News.
Loyack added “several individuals at Rider received a threat directed at our campus as a result of this individual’s actions.” Though Loyack did not disclose the name of the professor who was fired, The Rider News reported it was Ecke, a social work adjunct professor.
Ecke made a number of posts on her personal Facebook page decrying gun violence in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.
“I don’t care that Charlie Kirk got shot. Kids are being slaughtered in their classrooms and the same people crying outrage for him have nothing to say when it’s children in body bags. Spare me the hypocrisy. Charlie Kirk chose his platform–those kids never chose to die at school,” Ecke commented.
In another post she wrote: “Mouth breathers: the whole message here is that no one deserves to be shot. At school. In a movie theatre. In a library. You’re missing the whole point of this.”
“For everyone saying ‘Charlie Kirk didn’t deserve to die that way’: Welcome to the f–ing group chat. That’s what we have been saying all along. No one should be shot, ever. That’s like, the whole point of this conversation,” another post read.
Ecke told The College Fix her comments have been taken out of context and that her intention had been to condemn gun violence.
“I spoke out both as a mother and as a licensed clinical social worker who has spent her career protecting children and families,” she said via email.
“My remarks came from that place, a deep professional and moral responsibility to speak out against violence and the conditions that allow it to persist.”
“My comments were not directed at any individual or ideology,” she said, “but were part of a broader plea for accountability and compassion in how public figures use their platforms. Words have power, and when they contribute to division or hostility, they can have real-world consequences.”
“My comments were, and remain, a call for empathy, awareness, and collective action to protect our children from preventable violence.”
According to Patch, Kristine Brown, vice president for external affairs for Rider University, said “a line was crossed that resulted in the threats to our community.”
“This decision was about protecting our students, faculty and staff in the face of real threats arising from these actions,” Brown said.
Brown did not respond to requests from The College Fix seeking comment. The Rider AAUP chapter did not respond to a request for comment.
