Iowa State University (ISU) has terminated a financial aid adviser following a controversial social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The employee, Caitlyn Spencer, was officially dismissed on Tuesday, September 23, after the university determined her conduct violated institutional policies and caused significant disruption.
Key Takeaways
- An Iowa State University financial aid adviser, Caitlyn Spencer, was fired on September 23.
- The termination followed a social media comment she made regarding the hypothetical death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- The Iowa Board of Regents had authorized investigations into employee social media use just one week before the firing.
- The incident drew condemnation from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and other state and national Republican figures.
Details of the Termination
Caitlyn Spencer, who worked as a financial aid adviser at Iowa State University, had her employment terminated by the institution. The decision was formalized in a letter dated September 23 from ISU President Wendy Wintersteen.
The termination letter, obtained through an open records request, stated that an investigation into Spencer's conduct had concluded. President Wintersteen wrote that the university found Spencer’s actions were in violation of the Board of Regents' policy and her professional ethical obligations.
“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 stated in the letter.
The university informed Spencer that she has the right to appeal the termination decision to the Board of Regents.
The Social Media Comment
The controversy began after Spencer posted a comment on social media regarding Charlie Kirk, an activist known for his conservative views and opposition to gun control measures. In her post, Spencer wrote that Kirk “got what was coming and I’m happy he’s rotting in hell now.” The comment was made in the context of a hypothetical assassination of the public figure.
Iowa Board of Regents Authorizes Investigations
The firing occurred just one week after the Iowa Board of Regents took decisive action regarding employee conduct on social media. On September 17, the board held a 2.5-hour closed session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual.
Following the private session, the regents unanimously approved a motion authorizing Iowa’s three public universities—Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa—to launch immediate investigations into all alleged violations of board policy. The universities were given a two-week deadline to complete these inquiries.
The motion also stipulated that employees under investigation would be placed on administrative leave. Upon completion of the investigations, university presidents were granted the authority to take immediate action, including termination.
Statement from the Board President
Sherry Bates, President of the Iowa Board of Regents, issued a statement clarifying the board's position. “Posts like the ones we saw last week are offensive, inappropriate, and above all, unacceptable. We expect more from those who work at our institutions,” Bates said. “Violence is never the answer to solving problems, no matter how much people disagree, and supporting a violent act is as bad as the act itself.”
Political Reaction and Public Pressure
The social media post prompted swift and strong reactions from state and federal officials, placing significant pressure on the university and the Board of Regents. Many public figures called for the employee’s immediate dismissal.
Governor Reynolds Addresses the Board
On September 15, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds sent a letter to the Board of Regents describing the social media commentary as a “total violation” of the trust placed in public universities. She expressed serious concerns about the implications for campus climate.
“Having a faculty and staff who endorse violence towards people with differing beliefs ― especially as they express them on college campuses where the free exchange of ideas is supposed to occur ― has a chilling effect on students' willingness to express their own views,” Governor Reynolds wrote. “There is no place for this type of fear in a higher education learning environment.”
State and Federal Lawmakers Demand Action
The call for termination was echoed by several other Republican leaders. State Rep. Taylor Collins and state Sen. Lynn Evans, who chair the House and Senate education committees respectively, issued a joint statement urging the Board of Regents to fire “any university employees who celebrated the death of their fellow American.”
- Lawmakers' Statement: “College campuses were once the epicenter of civil debate and respectful discourse... Now, we see through these social media posts, just how far higher education has strayed from its original mission.”
- U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson: The congresswoman was among those calling for the employee's firing.
- Rudy Giuliani: The former New York City mayor and attorney for Donald Trump also weighed in on the social media platform X, urging the public to contact Iowa State and “demand that this enabler and supporter of MURDER be immediately fired.”
The widespread public and political condemnation created a high-pressure environment for Iowa's public university system, culminating in the termination of the employee at the center of the controversy.
