Middle Tennessee State University has fired Assistant Dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy following a social media post in which she said she had “zero sympathy” for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday.
University President Sidney McPhee said Sosh-Lightsy’s remarks were “inappropriate and callous,” adding that they were inconsistent with the institution’s values and harmful to its public credibility. Sosh-Lightsy, who had worked in student development at MTSU since 2004 and had more than 20 years of experience, was terminated effective immediately.
The university, located about 40 miles south of Nashville, also issued a statement expressing its “deepest sympathies” to Kirk’s family.
The decision came after significant backlash online, including from U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican and gubernatorial candidate, who shared the post on X and called for Sosh-Lightsy’s removal. Blackburn said the assistant dean should be “ashamed” of her comments.
Sosh-Lightsy’s firing is one of several terminations linked to controversial reactions to Kirk’s death. According to The Hill and other outlets:
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A South Carolina teacher was dismissed after posting that “America became greater” following Kirk’s death.
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An Iowa teacher faces termination after writing “1 Nazi down,” according to the Des Moines Register.
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A Carolina Panthers staffer was fired for a post asking, “Why are y’all sad? Your man said it was worth it…”, reported The Charlotte Observer.
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An Arizona sportswriter also lost his job over a related post.
Other individuals remain under investigation or criticism, including a New Orleans firefighter who described the shooting as “a gift from God,” and a teacher and city councilor in Oregon who said Kirk’s death “really brightened up my day.”