Florida Atlantic University (FAU) reinstated two tenured professors — Karen Leader and Rebel Cole — on November 18, 2025, after placing them on paid administrative leave earlier this fall for social‑media comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision followed an external investigation by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, which concluded that their posts constituted protected speech under the First Amendment and did not disrupt campus operations.
The controversy began in September, when FAU suspended three professors — Leader, Cole, and English teacher Kate Polak — after posts about Kirk’s death went viral. Leader’s posts criticized Kirk, while Cole’s posts defended him. A cascade of media coverage and public outrage followed.
The outside review applied the legal standard set by Pickering v. Board of Education, focusing on whether the speech occurred in a personal capacity on matters of public concern, and whether it disrupted institutional functioning. The investigators found no evidence of disruption; as a result, FAU cleared both professors and allowed them to resume teaching.
One professor remains on leave. Polak has not yet been reinstated; the independent review into her posts remains underway.
Some students expressed concern. Members of the campus chapter of College Republicans noted that some professors appear to push political ideology, and argue that classroom content should remain non‑political unless academically relevant. Other students defended free speech but condemned rhetoric that seemed to celebrate violence, warning against hateful or inflammatory statements.
This outcome underscores the limits of campus discipline when faculty speech involves public‑concern commentary outside of official duties. Universities may face mounting pressure — legal, social, and institutional — to respect constitutional protections even after controversial events draw media fire.
