On September 13, 2025, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), a public university, placed Karen Leader, a tenured professor of art history on leave in response to social media posts that she made about the murdered political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025. On September 11 and 12, Leader posted to X a series of messages highlighting statements made by Kirk. Most of Leader’s posts were re-posts of others’ comments that described Kirk’s rhetoric as racist, transphobic, and homophobic. Leader republished these messages with the caption “This was Charlie Kirk.” None of the posts directly commented on Kirk’s killing. After Leader’s social media posts came to public attention, FAU’s president announced that an unnamed faculty member had been placed on leave for allegedly “comments on social media made…regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.” Social media commentators also publicly posted Leader’s home address and faculty email.
At the time of writing, Leader remained on leave pending the results of an internal university investigation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the suspension of a faculty member, apparently without due process and in anticipation of or in response to outside pressure, over commentary on a matter of public concern. In addition to academic freedom, academics should enjoy the full scope of freedom of expression as all other persons. In the United States, public universities may not restrict the freedom of expression (free speech) of their employees when they speak as private citizens, and must refrain from retaliatory actions that punish, restrict, or chill such private expression. Disciplining academic staff for private expression undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.
UPDATE 11/21/25: On November 18, 2025, FAU reinstated Leader, after determining that her posts were protected free speech.
Sources:
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boca-raton/employment-experts-weigh-in-on-fau-professor-placed-on-leave-after-charlie-kirk-post
https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-atlantic-university-faculty-member-leave-following-comments-charlie-kriks-death/66089667
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/09/14/south-florida-universities-take-action-over-charlie-kirk-comments/
https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-letter-florida-atlantic-university-september-18-2025
https://hyperallergic.com/1043397/art-history-professor-placed-on-leave-over-charlie-kirk-posts/
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/11/19/two-fau-faculty-members-return-to-work-after-charlie-kirk-comments-found-to-be-protected-speech/