"After the right-wing activist was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump and his allies sought to punish anyone who made public comments about Kirk that could be perceived as critical. Numerous universities fired or suspended professors, including three at FAU: Karen Leader, an associate professor of art history; Kate Polak, an English professor; and Rebel Cole, a finance professor."
"While the three professors were on administrative leave, the university hired Alan Lawson, a former Florida Supreme Court justice, to investigate their comments. Lawson has since concluded that Cole's and Leader's comments were protected by the First Amendment and recommended they both be reinstated. "The findings reflect that each professor's social-media statements, though provocative to varying degrees, were authored in a personal capacity on matters of public concern," Lawson wrote."
Florida Atlantic University placed three professors on administrative leave after they made public comments related to Charlie Kirk's killing. The university retained former Florida Supreme Court justice Alan Lawson to investigate. Lawson concluded that Rebel Cole's and Karen Leader's social-media statements were authored in a personal capacity on matters of public concern and were protected by the First Amendment, recommending their reinstatement. Cole had posted threatening comments toward Kirk's opponents on social media. Cole sued the university alleging a First Amendment violation. Kate Polak remains on administrative leave while Lawson continues to investigate her comments.
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