Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, left, and University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson speak with Iowa lawmakers Feb. 24, 2025. Both presidents are handling investigations into social media and videos involving university employees. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Iowa State University has terminated the employment of a financial worker who made negative remarks about right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk after his death.
The university took action halfway through the timeframe set by the Iowa Board of Regents for investigating such cases.
According to a letter dated Sept. 23 and sent to the Iowa Capital Dispatch by ISU spokesperson Angie Hunt, the university notified “financial aid professional” Caitlyn Spencer her employment was terminated as the result of an investigation into violations of the board of regents’ freedom of expression policy. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen signed the letter.
“As a result of the investigation, Iowa State University has determined that your conduct and continued employment has caused, and is reasonably likely to continue to cause, significant disruption, harm, and adverse impact to the efficient and effective operations of the university,” the letter stated.
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Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates on Sept. 17 ordered each of the universities the board governs to conduct investigations into alleged violations of board policy relating to free expression, including rules on social media that state employees can express their own views online as long as they don’t violate university policies, like making threats against a coworker.
Any investigations must be wrapped up within two weeks, Bates said during the Sept. 17 board meeting, and university presidents are allowed to take immediate disciplinary action, including job termination.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a news conference Wednesday that anyone found through investigation to have celebrated “taking another human life, you know, shutting down free speech” should lose their job, adding that the action “has a chilling effect.”
“Anybody — anybody — that celebrates the execution of a human being is disgusting and unconscionable, and it’s just not acceptable,” Reynolds said. “Political violence should never be accepted, period. Period, end of story.”
Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, voiced his support for the termination on the social media site X. He and Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, previously called for the firing of any university employee found to have “celebrated” Kirk’s death online.
Collins pointed to Spencer’s online comments about Kirk’s death as one example of university employees who have “celebrated the death of their fellow American,” the letter stated. According to information provided by Collins, Spencer’s post stated that Kirk “got was coming” and that she was “happy he’s rotting in hell now.”
“Assassination culture will not be tolerated on Iowa’s college campuses,” Collins said in his post. “Other university employees who advocate for violence against those of differing political views will be dealt with accordingly.”
The University of Northern Iowa directed questions about potential employee investigations to the Iowa Board of Regents, and board spokesperson Josh Lehman said in an email he has no additional information to provide.
University of Iowa public relations manager Steve Schmadeke said in an email personnel actions are considered confidential.
The board of regents also received an update at last week’s meeting on investigations into University of Iowa employees who allegedly spoke on video about trying to work around anti-diversity, equity and inclusion laws put in place by the Iowa Legislature.
Both the UI and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird stated they would be opening investigations into videos aired on Fox News showing Andrea Tinoco, the assistant director of UI Leadership and Student Organization Development discussing how she still completes DEI work despite the terms being removed online, and another UI employee talking on the same topic.
Regent David Barker asked UI President Barbara Wilson about the investigations during the meeting; she directed the questions to Board Counsel Aimee Claeys. Claeys said board staff is working with Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan and the Attorney General’s Office on the investigation, as well as outside law firm Consovoy McCarthy, on a two-phase review into the videos themselves and overall compliance with state and federal law.
The first phase of the investigation involves reviewing the videos in question to determine whether employees have violated institutional or board policies, Claeys said, and the second phase will focus on supplementing past work to “determine and ensure a broader compliance” with state and federal civil rights laws.
According to reporting from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, a contract between the board and Consovoy McCarthy commits to paying the firm $700,000 in three phases.
“That work is just commencing, we are in the document and record gathering phase, but I meet every other week with Consovoy and Solicitor General Wesson to make sure that we are on track, on task, on budget, and that the expectations of the Board of Regents, the universities and the attorney generals are being met.
— Robin Opsahl contributed to this report.