Clemson University officials say they have taken action against three employees for their posts on social media following the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.The university’s board of trustees met Monday for a special-called meeting days after the posts from the employees came to light.”The Clemson University Board of Trustees expects the highest levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism from all university employees,” Board Chair Kim Wilkerson said after a three-hour executive session. “When individuals fall short of these expectations – especially in ways that compromise the safety of our campus community and undermine the learning environment – decisive action is not only warranted, but necessary to uphold the university’s mission and values.”The university confirmed an employee has been terminated and two faculty members have been removed from teaching as the investigation into their online posts continues.WYFF News 4 is in the process of contacting the employee and faculty members who made the online posts.The university’s moves were announced hours after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sent President Jim Clements a letter stating that state law does not prevent the university from firing the employees over their posts. Clemson College Republicans condemned the social media posts of an employee and two faculty members. “We find that entirely unacceptable. We cannot have that kind of speech here on campus,” Chairman Jack Lyle said. “We had one who basically declared it to be karmic justice. We had another who was celebrating, who was reveling in the death of Charlie, and the third, and ultimately the most egregious, who said in a world of Charlie Kirks be a Tyler Robinson.”Their efforts on social media gained support across the U.S. and in the state, including President Donald Trump, who reposted one of their posts.Members of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus could be seen on the university campus on Monday. State Rep. April Cromer, R-Anderson County, and other members of the caucus threatened to defund the university if they did not take action on the employees over their posts.”Our taxpayers in South Carolina, they do not want to be funding the woke, leftist junk and their agenda that’s been coming into our state. That doesn’t stand for our values of the majority of the taxpayers in our state,” Cromer said. “This is an indoctrination center, and we definitely want to make sure that all of that goes away and that narrative goes away before they receive another penny of taxpayer dollars at the very least.””We do not, at the end of the day, want to see Clemson defunded,” Lyle said. “At the end of the day, they have to understand they are at the will of the Statehouse. They’re at the will of– especially the amount of federal funding that they receive.”Lyle also explained what the conservatives on campus wanted to see from the administration.”First, an acknowledgment that these are not their First Amendment rights under attack, but instead their employment under attack,” Lyle said. “They agree to follow the same code of ethics that we do as students, that all other members of faculty do, and they have violated that code of ethics.”Protesters outside of Monday’s board meeting asked the university to reinstate the employees.”The government is extorting Clemson by threatening funding if the university does not violate these employees’ constitutional rights to free speech. This is illegal,” protester Matthew McDaniel said. After Monday’s board meeting, WYFF News 4 asked President Clements if he had further comment in addition to what the board chair said, but he did not answer that question.WYFF News 4 also reached out to Clemson College Democrats for an interview, but they were not available.The full statement from Board Chair Kim Wilkerson can be found below: “The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk is a reminder of the sacred responsibility we have to protect our students, faculty, and staff. The Clemson University Board of Trustees expects the highest levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism from all university employees. “When individuals fall short of these expectations – especially in ways that compromise the safety of our campus community and undermine the learning environment – decisive action is not only warranted, but necessary to uphold the University’s mission and values. “Accordingly, the Board supports President Clements in his efforts to take immediate and appropriate measures regarding the employees in question.”Clemson University’s foremost priority is to provide a safe campus and a secure learning environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive. The Board will accept nothing less.”
Clemson University officials say they have taken action against three employees for their posts on social media following the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
The university’s board of trustees met Monday for a special-called meeting days after the posts from the employees came to light.
“The Clemson University Board of Trustees expects the highest levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism from all university employees,” Board Chair Kim Wilkerson said after a three-hour executive session. “When individuals fall short of these expectations – especially in ways that compromise the safety of our campus community and undermine the learning environment – decisive action is not only warranted, but necessary to uphold the university’s mission and values.”
The university confirmed an employee has been terminated and two faculty members have been removed from teaching as the investigation into their online posts continues.
WYFF News 4 is in the process of contacting the employee and faculty members who made the online posts.
The university’s moves were announced hours after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sent President Jim Clements a letter stating that state law does not prevent the university from firing the employees over their posts.
Clemson College Republicans condemned the social media posts of an employee and two faculty members.
“We find that entirely unacceptable. We cannot have that kind of speech here on campus,” Chairman Jack Lyle said. “We had one who basically declared it to be karmic justice. We had another who was celebrating, who was reveling in the death of Charlie, and the third, and ultimately the most egregious, who said in a world of Charlie Kirks be a Tyler Robinson.”
Their efforts on social media gained support across the U.S. and in the state, including President Donald Trump, who reposted one of their posts.
Members of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus could be seen on the university campus on Monday.
State Rep. April Cromer, R-Anderson County, and other members of the caucus threatened to defund the university if they did not take action on the employees over their posts.
“Our taxpayers in South Carolina, they do not want to be funding the woke, leftist junk and their agenda that’s been coming into our state. That doesn’t stand for our values of the majority of the taxpayers in our state,” Cromer said. “This is an indoctrination center, and we definitely want to make sure that all of that goes away and that narrative goes away before they receive another penny of taxpayer dollars at the very least.”
“We do not, at the end of the day, want to see Clemson defunded,” Lyle said. “At the end of the day, they have to understand they are at the will of the Statehouse. They’re at the will of– especially the amount of federal funding that they receive.”
Lyle also explained what the conservatives on campus wanted to see from the administration.
“First, [we want to see] an acknowledgment that these are not their First Amendment rights under attack, but instead their employment under attack,” Lyle said. “They agree to follow the same code of ethics that we do as students, that all other members of faculty do, and they have violated that code of ethics.”
Protesters outside of Monday’s board meeting asked the university to reinstate the employees.
“The government is extorting Clemson by threatening funding if the university does not violate these employees’ constitutional rights to free speech. This is illegal,” protester Matthew McDaniel said.
After Monday’s board meeting, WYFF News 4 asked President Clements if he had further comment in addition to what the board chair said, but he did not answer that question.
WYFF News 4 also reached out to Clemson College Democrats for an interview, but they were not available.
The full statement from Board Chair Kim Wilkerson can be found below:
“The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk is a reminder of the sacred responsibility we have to protect our students, faculty, and staff. The Clemson University Board of Trustees expects the highest levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism from all university employees.
“When individuals fall short of these expectations – especially in ways that compromise the safety of our campus community and undermine the learning environment – decisive action is not only warranted, but necessary to uphold the University’s mission and values.
“Accordingly, the Board supports President Clements in his efforts to take immediate and appropriate measures regarding the employees in question.
“Clemson University’s foremost priority is to provide a safe campus and a secure learning environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive. The Board will accept nothing less.”