LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Cumberland University employees are no longer with the school after making what leaders called "inappropriate comments" online about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

So far this week, a member of Middle Tennessee State University‘s Office of Student Care and Conduct has been fired, two faculty members at East Tennessee State University have been suspended, and an employee of Metro Nashville dispatch has been put on administrative leave, all for social media posts related to Kirk’s death.

"Celebrating or wishing death on somebody is not OK regardless of your political party," the organizer of the protest and a student at UT Chattanooga, Reagan Becquet, expressed.

Students gathered outside Cumberland University calling for action after they said two campus leaders, Michael Rex and Max Wood, posted online in a celebratory or hateful way about Kirk's death.

"I just don't think that a person who makes those kinds of posts should be in a classroom teaching young generations," protest participant and student at Cumberland University, Morgan Stearman, said.

"They do have a right to an opinion on their beliefs and what they stand for, but when it comes to taking a life or the passing away of someone, I don't think that is something that should be taken lightly," a Cumberland University student said.

Wilson County District Attorney Jason Lawson told News 2:

"Early this morning, I canceled my upcoming guest lecture appearance at Cumberland University. Both personally and as District Attorney, I will not partner with an organization wherein an employee celebrates the commission of a crime, especially one as horrendous as this one. Words matter, and despite my past support of Cumberland, taking a stand here is important."

By midday on Friday, the university confirmed online that it no longer employs them.

"The examples of their posts were not what we would expect as a role model, but particularly the faculty member, but also the staff member, too, should have done for our students," Cumberland University President Dr. Paul Stumb said. "I believe that they just made a mistake. It was an unfortunate and significant enough mistake that we felt like we needed to have them no longer in our employ."

Wood later posted an apology online: "Yesterday, I made a knee-jerk reaction tweet to a tragedy. It doesn't reflect who I am or where I actually stand, and I am deeply regretful for making the tweet. As I represent more than just myself now, I need to ensure that I represent the morals/values that represent me fully."

"I think they regretted their decisions," Stumb said. "They both apologized to me personally." 

The controversy also led the university to cancel a planned lecture series with former MSNBC political contributor Matthew Dowd after his own remarks about Kirk.

"We need to be very careful and judicious about what we post on social media or in any other medium, even on email," Stumb said. "We need to choose our words carefully because words can hurt."

"If we hold people accountable the first time, we can eliminate these kinds of problems," Becquet said.

"This just kind of reminds everyone that we need to be held to a higher standard, especially when we are in a leadership position," Becquet concluded.

News 2 reached out to both Wood and Rex through their social media accounts and has not heard back as of this publication.

Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto released a statement saying:

In recent days, I have spent much time in thought and prayer over the events unfolding in our nation. While many have spoken out, I have remained silent in order for those in charge to make their decisions accordingly. The tragedy of Charlie Kirk's death is incomprehensible. The video, which continues to play on social media, is unimaginable, and for employees at our University to speak in a manner of no compassion and judgment is unacceptable. One voice of a body does not represent the whole body, and that is evident in this case. Our focus should be on the family of Charlie Kirk, the 3,000-plus students who witnessed this horrendous act, and what has allowed our nation to experience tragedy on almost a daily basis. Today, I ask you to join me in prayer - for our nation, our community, and for our own hearts. May we be people who speak with love, act with kindness, and lead with humility. Together, let us be the salt and the light that this world so desperately needs.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/students-protest-cumberland-university-cuts-ties-with-employees-over-inappropriate-charlie-kirk-posts/