Yet, in the hours following his death, a torrent of celebratory posts from academics—professors, deans, and staff—has triggered an unprecedented wave of firings. Over 20 cases have emerged in just 24 hours, exposing the fragility of tenure in the age of viral outrage.
This isn't mere schadenfreude; it's a reckoning. Kirk spent years warning that elite institutions were breeding grounds for radical intolerance, where dissent was punished and conservative voices silenced. Now, as educators revel in his demise, they're tasting the bitter fruit of their own cancel culture playbook. From Tennessee to Massachusetts, universities are scrambling to distance themselves from employees whose "insensitive" remarks have ignited national backlash. The irony is palpable: the very platforms Kirk defended are being used to dismantle careers built on intellectual elitism.
Consider the case at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where assistant dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy was swiftly terminated after posting on Facebook that she had "zero sympathy" for Kirk's death, calling it "karma for his hate speech."
Her words, shared publicly, prompted an immediate investigation, with the university citing a violation of professional conduct policies. Similarly, a student affairs administrator at the same institution was fired for "insensitive" cheers about the assassination, as reported by Inside Higher Ed.
MTSU's rapid response underscores how Kirk's supporters, amplified by social media sleuths, can turn a single post into a termination notice.
Across the South, the fallout has been equally severe. At Cumberland University in Tennessee, two employees—Dr. Michael Rex, a history professor, and adjunct Max Wood—were let go after posting memes mocking Kirk as a "bigot deserving what he got."
The university confirmed their dismissals, emphasizing that such comments undermined the institution's commitment to civility. In South Carolina, high school teacher Wynne Boliek from the Greenville County School District was fired outright for declaring on social media that "America became greater" post-Kirk.
Though not a college, her case mirrors the broader academic purge, as school districts face similar scrutiny.
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) joined the fray by terminating staffer Lauren Stokes, who shared a post labeling Kirk a "reimagined Klan member" and expressing relief at his passing.
Ole Miss's statement decried the "hurtful" nature of her words, firing her amid mounting pressure from alumni and conservative influencers.
Up north, two Massachusetts teachers—one from Boston College's outreach program and another from a community college—were placed on administrative leave after posting videos dancing to news of Kirk's death.
Their gleeful reactions, captured on TikTok, went viral, forcing their institutions to act.
Canada's academic ivory tower wasn't spared. A professor at the University of Toronto was suspended pending review after tweeting that Kirk's murder was "a blow to fascism on campuses."
In Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis's watchful eye, one teacher from the University of Central Florida was suspended, while three others at Florida State University face investigations for posts ranging from "good riddance" to justifying violence against conservatives.
DeSantis's administration has vowed to root out such "hate," aligning with Kirk's long-standing critiques of progressive indoctrination.
The list grows grimly longer. At Guilford Technical College in North Carolina, Professor Lisa Greenlee was fired after praising the assassin's "good aim" in a class discussion that leaked online.
Michigan State University (MSU) is under fire for employee Mary Kay, who allegedly taught students that Kirk's death was "the greatest thing for the country," prompting calls for her dismissal—though no official action yet.
At the University of Michigan, a tenured professor quipped on X that "violence isn’t the answer, it is a solution" to figures like Kirk, leading to an internal probe and potential firing.
Notre Dame's affiliate, Saint Mary's College, saw Wellness Program Manager Payton Alexi Moore condemned for justifying the assassination as a response to Kirk's "hate-sowing."
She's facing termination, with alumni demanding her ouster. Ball State University's Suzanne Swierc blamed Kirk's openness on campuses for inciting violence, tweeting that his death reflected "the hatred he sowed"—a post that has her job hanging by a thread.
In Iowa, a teacher at the University of Iowa is on the brink of dismissal after posting about Kirk's death as "poetic justice," with state lawmakers like House Speaker Pat Grassley signaling committee reviews.
California's UC Berkeley suspended an adjunct lecturer who shared a cartoon depicting Kirk's shooting as "divine intervention." At Texas A&M, a communications professor was let go for a thread arguing Kirk's activism "deserved backlash." Ohio State University's grad assistant faced expulsion after live-streaming cheers in a dorm.
The purge extends to smaller institutions: A dean at Vanderbilt Divinity School was fired for calling Kirk's death "a win for progress." Emory University's staffer lost her position over a post likening the assassination to "removing a tumor." Even Ivy Leagues aren't immune; a Yale visiting scholar was disinvited from future events after tweeting relief at "one less propagandist." At UCLA, two adjuncts were terminated for group chats leaked online, mocking Kirk's family. And in a particularly egregious case, a Colorado State professor was fired for assigning a "celebratory essay" on Kirk's demise to her class.
These 20 incidents—spanning public and private schools, from deans to adjuncts—paint a damning portrait of academia's underbelly. Rolling Stone reports that journalists and publicists have also been axed, but colleges bear the brunt, with over a dozen firings confirmed.
Kirk's death has mobilized his network, with accounts like Libs of TikTok and TaraBull amplifying doxxing efforts, leading to swift employer interventions.
Critics decry this as right-wing vigilantism, eroding free speech. But let's be clear: celebrating murder crosses every ethical line, especially from those shaping young minds. Kirk debated fiercely but never incited violence; his foes, it seems, have less restraint. This backlash isn't censorship—it's accountability. Universities that tolerated anti-conservative vitriol for years now enforce "civility" codes selectively, revealing their hypocrisy.
As X user @NotKennyRogers noted, the shooter's own radicalization likely stemmed from such campus toxicity, with his parents lamenting college's influence.
Kirk proved prescient: higher ed is a scam, churning out ideologues who prioritize echo chambers over enlightenment. These firings are a start, but real reform demands defunding the radicals and restoring debate. In Kirk's memory, perhaps this purge signals a turning point—where free speech means consequences for all.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
