Rider University Fires Adjunct Professor For Facebook Comments On Charlie Kirk

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — An adjunct professor from Rider University was fired earlier this week, after her Facebook comments on Charlie Kirk drew criticism and led to threats against the university.

In an email to the campus community, University President John R. Loyack said the adjunct faculty member was terminated from their post because their "behavior did not reflect our expectations for respectful and civil engagement" and "several individuals at Rider received a threat directed at our campus as a result of this individual’s actions."

Kristine Brown, VP of External Affairs for Rider University, said the institution ended the appointment of the faculty member as they "violated University policy, and resulted in a threat received by several members of our community."

She went on to say that law enforcement is actively investigating these threats.

"The University’s decision was not about the suppression of any particular viewpoints. But we must recognize that how those viewpoints are expressed matters. And with respect to this particular adjunct faculty member, 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.

"Rider remains firmly committed to free speech, open inquiry and the exchange of ideas. However, under these circumstances, the University acted responsibly and decisively to ensure the well-being of all in the Rider community."

The Rider Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) criticized the University for failing to protect the faculty member’s academic freedom and right to participate in a public forum.

“This is clearly in violation of the University's obligation under our Agreement. Under Article IV Academic Freedom, the University agreed that it would "not threaten, coerce, or discipline members of the bargaining unit because of what they say or what they do as private citizens." 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,” the AAUP said.

“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. The AAUP will take all actions within its power to right this wrong.”

Although the AAUP did not name the professor, The Rider News reported on the matter and identified the faculty as Kate Ecke, a social work adjunct professor.

Ecke made the comments in her personal capacity on her Facebook page.

In one post, she wrote, “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,” the student paper reported.

In another post, she said, “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.”

Ecke told the student paper that after Rider’s Senior Leadership Team and lawyer reviewed her Facebook posts, they felt that “she was inciting violence and would need to be terminated or could resign from her position,” the paper reported.

Meanwhile, a Change.org petition has been launched calling on the University to reinstate Ecke.

“Two unidentified persons called Rider with unsubstantiated threats in response to Ecke’s posts. Rather than defending his faculty, President Loyack placed responsibility on Professor Ecke,” the petition said.

“Stand with Professor Kate Ecke. Stand with free speech. Stand on the right side of history.”

Kirk was assassinated during a stop on his "American Comeback" tour last week. A suspect in the fatal shooting, Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, was taken into custody.

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