A now-former employee of Middle Tennessee State University, Laura Sosh-Lightsy, was fired after making comments surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“Looks like ol’ Charlie spoke his fate into existence,” Sosh-Lightsy said. “Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy.” In a follow-up post, the employee said that “hate begets hate.”
Tennessee State Rep. Jason Zachary, an MTSU alum, condemned the comments. “As an @MTSU alum, I’m disgusted. A person who has so little regard for basic decency, the value of life and then lacks the common sence to not post such vile, should NOT be in leadership at one of our universities. If you are a parent or student @MTSU, I encourage you to contact the school tomorrow requesting immediate action be taken. This person should not be employed in higher education in TN. I’ll be reaching out tomorrow as well.”
“An MTSU employee today offered inappropriate and callous comments on social media concerning the horrific and tragic murder of Charlie Kirk,” MTSU President Sidney McPhee said in a statement. “The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large. This employee has been fired effective immediately. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family.”
Similarly, MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested that Charlie Kirk’s own rhetoric led to his assassination. The network moved swiftly to distance itself from the comments. “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
