Iowa State University has terminated a financial aid advisor, Caitlyn Spencer, following a social media post she made regarding the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk. The university stated that her comments, which claimed Kirk “got what was coming,” violated institutional policies and caused significant disruption.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa State University dismissed financial aid advisor Caitlyn Spencer for a controversial social media post.
- The post, made after Charlie Kirk's assassination, stated he "got what was coming" and was "rotting in hell."
- University President Wendy Wintersteen cited violations of the freedom of expression policy and ethical obligations as reasons for the termination.
- The university claimed Spencer's actions caused "significant disruption" to its operations.
- Spencer has the option to appeal the decision to the ISU Board of Regents.
Details of the Termination
The decision to terminate Caitlyn Spencer's employment was announced following a closed session meeting of the Iowa State University Board of Regents. The university formalized the dismissal in a letter to Spencer from President Wendy Wintersteen.
In the letter, Wintersteen outlined the university's position, stating that Spencer's conduct was in breach of established policies. The termination was based on violations of the Board of Regents’ freedom of expression policy and her professional ethical duties as a financial aid advisor.
The president's letter explicitly linked Spencer's continued employment to operational harm. It read, “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.”
The university has confirmed that Spencer retains the right to appeal the termination. The appeal process would involve presenting her case directly to the ISU Board of Regents for reconsideration.
The Controversial Social Media Post
The incident originated from a social media post made by Spencer shortly after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist. Her comments quickly gained widespread attention online.
“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 reports from The Gazette, the post went viral, accumulating millions of views across various platforms. Its reach was amplified when public figures, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, commented on it. The high visibility of the post contributed to the university's claim of significant disruption.
Widespread Online Attention
The social media post attracted millions of views and was shared widely, escalating the situation from a personal comment to a matter of public concern for the university.
University Policy and Freedom of Expression
At the center of the controversy is Iowa State's policy on freedom of expression for its employees. The policy attempts to balance an employee's First Amendment rights with the university's need to maintain its mission and operational integrity.
The Iowa State Board of Regents policy specifies that employees “are free to express personal opinions on their personal social media accounts, consistent with the First Amendment and its application to public employees.” This generally protects personal speech made outside of official duties.
Limits on Public Employee Speech
The First Amendment does not provide unlimited protection for public employees. Courts often weigh the employee's right to speak on matters of public concern against the government employer's interest in promoting the efficiency of the public services it performs. Speech that causes significant workplace disruption is less likely to be protected.
However, the policy includes a critical provision. It states that “under certain circumstances,” the university “may be obligated to act to prevent harm to the university, our campus community, and its mission.” The administration relied on this clause, arguing Spencer's post crossed the line from personal opinion to harmful disruption.
Additional Campus Speech Incidents
The termination of Caitlyn Spencer is not the only recent speech-related controversy at Iowa State University, which has led to questions about the consistency of the institution's response.
Another Professor's Comments
Following Kirk's death, George Archer, a professor in the Religious Studies department at ISU, also made a post that drew public criticism. He wrote, “Yeah sorry pretty sure we’re all OK with political violence. Every. One. Of. Us.” Despite the public outcry over his comment, Professor Archer remains employed by the university.
Spencer's Previous Activism
Adding another layer to the situation, The Gazette reported that Spencer had previously been a signatory on a letter concerning campus speech. This letter condemned ISU officials for their lack of action against a tweet from the university's College Republicans chapter.
The College Republicans' tweet, posted after the 2020 presidential election, stated, “Everyone, you must arm up, expect these people to attempt to destroy your life, the elites want revenge on us.”
The letter Spencer signed argued this tweet represented an “implied threat of violence” and created an unsafe campus environment. It called for a “temporary ban” of the student group. The letter stated, “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.” This past involvement highlights the complex and often contentious nature of regulating political speech on college campuses.