AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) – The president of Auburn University released a statement Wednesday announcing the termination of an undisclosed number of employees for “hurtful” posts made on social media.
President Christopher Roberts explained in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the employees in question violated the school’s Code of Conduct.
“It has come to our attention that there are Auburn employees who made social media posts that were hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn’s values of respect, integrity and responsibility in violation of our Code of Conduct,” said Roberts. “We are terminating the employment of those individuals. We unequivocally condemn this conduct, which is antithetical to values we hold dear in the Auburn Creed.”
Roberts did not identify the specific employees or their roles at the University. He also did not address the specific posts that prompted the firings.
However, both of Alabama’s U.S. senators reacted on X to the terminations, linking the comments to the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville responded to the firings on X:
Sen. Katie Britt also responded to the post, praising Roberts’ actions:
In the wake of Kirk’s assassination, many people across the country have found themselves out of a job following a push to punish those who openly mock or praise Kirk’s killing.
Roberts’ announcement comes days after Alabama’s state school superintendent released a letter calling such posts “inappropriate, reprehensible, and inexcusable.”
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