Following the assasination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, students, professors and Texas legislators are reacting to disciplinary action taken against Texans who have made public statements regarding Kirk’s death.
At Texas State University, a student’s enrollment was terminated after he posted a video mocking Kirk’s death. A student at UT San Antonio, who wished to remain anonymous, commented on the recent event.
“I don’t think that any death, at all, should be mocked or celebrated,” a student studying medical humanities said. “Do I think [students] should be removed? No. I think it should be a write-up or maybe a [conversation] about how mockery isn’t right. But for them to be automatically removed from schools like honesty just sucks, because at the end of the day, we’re still young adults. Still changing, growing and learning.”
With the number of students being expelled, professors have also taken notice and have reacted similarly to the students.
“Students have the right to be foolish,” UT San Antonio Professor of Comparative Literature Steven Kellman said. “I don’t necessarily agree with the ideas or actions expressed by any particular student or faculty member. That’s what universities are formed for, an opportunity, a space to explore new ideas.”
At least six schools have terminated or placed teachers on administrative leave due to comments made on their social media regarding Krik’s death. According to an email sent from the UT San Antonio Office of Legal Affairs, online activity could impact teachers both personally and professionally.
“I have no problem with the policy of not using classrooms to advance political ideas or ideologies,” Kellman said. “What faculty members do on their own time is theirs, and the university should have no control over that.”
With students and professors alike facing repercussions, Texas Legislators are beginning to take notice. UT San Antonio alumni and State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, who represents the 116th district, weighed in. According to Martinez Fischer, removing students and teachers is not necessarily universal, but instead appears selective.
“I’m a proponent of protecting freedom of speech. I am a proponent of letting ideas flourish on college campuses,” Martinez Fischer said. “But if there are those who subscribe to the view that they believe their judgment is better than others, well then, they need to apply this judgment equally. Not just enforce it when the politics suits them.”
With the rise of repercussions in Texas universities, readers can stay up to date on Paisano-online.com.
