APSU walks back firing of professor over Charlie Kirk post and suspends him instead

• Austin Peay State University said it fired a professor on Sept. 12 over a social media post after Charlie Kirk's death.
• U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, shared a screen shot of the professor's post and tagged APSU.
• The university is now saying the professor, Darren Michael, is suspended and that the process to terminate his tenure has begun.

After firing a professor over his comments after the death of Charlie Kirk last month, Austin Peay State University is now saying the professor is instead suspended and that it has begun the process to terminate his tenure.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who had close ties to President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Two days later, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, shared what appeared to be a post by APSU theatre professor Darren Michael on X.

The post included a link to a news article about Kirk's previous statements on gun deaths being "worth it" to protect Second Amendment rights.

"What do you say @austinpeay?" Blackburn's post read.

The university announced that same day that Michael was fired.

“A faculty member of Austin Peay State University reshared a post on social media that was insensitive, disrespectful and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death," APSU President Mike Licari said in the statement about Michael's firing. "Such actions do not align with Austin Peay’s commitment to mutual respect and human dignity. The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member."

The USA TODAY Network-Tennessee obtained a letter dated Sept. 12 from Licari to Michael notifying him of his firing.

"This decision is being made due to the recent social media posts that have caused significant reputational damage to the university," the letter stated.

On Oct. 1, APSU Chief of Strategic Communication Ginna Holleman confirmed that Michael is instead suspended and that the university is "initiating proceedings to terminate his tenure for adequate cause."

Nashville lawyer David L. King told The USA TODAY Network-Tennessee that he is representing Michael and that he is working to get clarity on what happens next for his client.

"We're looking to see if there's a potential resolution," he said.

A university spokesperson also confirmed the APSU faculty senate held a vote of confidence on Licari, the APSU president, on Sept. 25. The spokesperson did not disclose the outcome of that vote.

What is APSU's termination policy for professors?

According to the APSU termination policy, termination for adequate cause includes "capricious disregard of accepted standards of professional conduct" and "failure to maintain the level of professional excellence and ability demonstrated by other members of the faculty in the department or academic program unit of the university."

To be terminated, the university's policy outlines a procedure that must be followed, including suspension pending completion of several other steps.

Here are the steps the policy outlines:

• A recommendation made by the chief academic officer of the university to the president or upon a decision by the president must meet privately with the faculty member to attempt a resolution
• If no resolution is met, the faculty member will be provided with the specific charges alleged by the university that constitute grounds for termination and a notice of a hearing at least 20 days prior
• The faculty member must respond at least five days prior and may waive the hearing
• A committee of tenured faculty or tenured faculty and administrators will be appointed by the president to hear the case and determine adequate cause

APSU's policy states that in the case of a suspension, the faculty member is given an opportunity at the time of the decision or immediately after to contest.

If there are disputed facts or causes, the faculty member will be given the chance for a hearing, where they can be represented by an attorney, present witnesses and cross-examine the accuser.