MUNCIE, Ind. - Muncie Resists and the Ball State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) have issued statements following the firing of Suzanne Swierc.
Swierc was fired by the university over a leaked, friends-only response regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Muncie Resists' statement, issued September 19, says that Swierc's comments were "shared on her own time and on her personal account, not in her capacity as a university official."
"By treating a private Facebook post as grounds for dismissal, Ball State sends the message that employees risk their livelihoods if their personal views draw political attention," the statement read in-part. "That decision was announced on Constitution Day, a day meant to celebrate free speech and the principles of democracy, only underscores the contradiction and the danger of this action."
Muncie Resists also condemned Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who shared Swierc's post on his Facebook on September 12, calling it "vile," "outrageous[,] and should make people question someone’s ability to be in a leadership position."
The AAUP's statement, issued September 20, says that while violence and celebrating violence is "strongly and unequivocally condemn[ed]," "Ms. Swierc was expressing herself on her private Facebook page, [and] did not incite violence nor celebrate it.
"The stated reason for her termination – that she caused 'significant disruption to the University’s mission and operations' – indicates leadership giving in to political pressure to fire BSU personnel due to the actions of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and billionaire Elon Musk using their influence to turn large numbers of followers against her," the statement read in-part.
A walk-out and rally will take place at the Ball State Peace Plaza on Wednesday, September 24, at 3:00 p.m. The event was announced in a joint Instagram post from Ball State for Palestine and The Muncie Liberation Studio on September 20.
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