A professor dismissed for making a controversial post about Charlie Kirk’s death has been reinstated and awarded $500,000 for therapy expenses.
Darren Michael, a faculty member at Austin Peay State University (APSU), was let go last year following his post concerning Kirk’s assassination.
Charlie Kirk, known for founding the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on September 10 in what officials described as a politically-driven attack.
On the same day, Michael, a tenured associate professor specializing in acting and directing at APSU since 2007, shared an article from an unnamed news source. The headline read: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”
Michael’s post gained widespread attention after Senator Marsha Blackburn highlighted it on her campaign’s social media platforms.
“What do you say, @austinpeay?” Blackburn posted, including a screenshot of Michael’s post and his university profile, which displayed his full name, email, and phone number.
Shortly after, APSU President Mike Licari released a statement saying Michael had been terminated from the school, according to WZTV.
‘A faculty member of Austin Peay State University reshared a post on social media that was insensitive, disrespectful and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death,’ Licari said.
Austin Peay State University (APSU) professor Darren Michael was fired last year after sharing a post about Kirk’s assassination, but his position was reinstated on December 30
Kirk, the founder of the right-wing group Turning Point USA, was gunned down at UtahValley University on September 10. Here, he is pictured with his wife, Erika Kirk
This was the post Michael made that got him fired. It gained attention after being reposted by Senator Marsha Blackburn on her gubernatorial campaign social media
‘Such actions do not align with Austin Peay’s commitment to mutual respect and human dignity. The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member.’
But the university soon moved the professor’s status to suspension after the initial firing, admitting that it had not followed due process.
And on December 30, Michael had his position fully reinstated. According to a settlement agreement obtained by WKRN, the university will also pay the professor $500,000 to reimburse therapeutic counseling services he underwent.
The settlement also included a statement from the university, which promised to circulate an apology to the professor among the campus community.
‘APSU agrees to issue a statement acknowledging regret for not following the tenure termination process in connection with the Dispute,’ the settlement reportedly said.
‘The statement will be distributed via email through APSU’s reasonable communication channels to faculty, staff, and students.’
Licari also issued a public statement that said: ‘APSU did not follow the required termination process in this matter, and I deeply regret and apologize for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community.
‘I am committed to ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in all future actions.’
APSU President Mike Licari released a statement saying Michael had been terminated from the school shortly after the professor’s post
The university soon moved the professor’s status to suspension after the initial firing, admitting that it had not followed due process
On December 30, Michael had his position fully reinstated. Lacari issued a public apology, and the university agreed to pay the professor $500,000
Michael’s termination in September was just one instance of a huge wave of firings that took place in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.
There were dozens of high-profile cases of political commentators, professors and other professionals who were let go by their employers for insensitive comments made about the late conservative activist on social media.
The firings were also international, with people in the United Kingdom and Canada coming under fire and losing jobs for their comments as well.
One example of a professor who was fired is Anne Luna-Gordinier, a Professor of Sociology at California State University, who shared a meme of The Grim Reaper using an arcade claw machine.
Over the top of her alleged post, it said: ‘HAHA OH HELL YEAH CHARLIE KIRK.’
Michael was just one of many professionals who were fired in the wake of Kirk’s assassination. The late conservative activist is pictured here at the event where he would later be killed
There was also Ruth Marshall, an associate professor of religious studies and political science at the University of Toronto, who said on her now-private X account that the ‘Shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist c**ts.’
And there was Nuchelle Chance, an assistant psychology professor at Fort Hays State University, who wrote on Facebook: ‘Me thinks the word “karma” is appropriate. Sad day all around.’
The post also linked to the same quote from Kirk about the Second Amendment that Michael had shared.
Unlike the APSU professor, most professionals who were placed on leave or fired have not gotten their jobs back.
