MTSU President McPhee announces immediate termination of employee for “inappropriate and callous” social media posts.
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has fired an assistant dean who posted “inappropriate and callous” comments about the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on social media. In a statement released Wednesday, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee announced the immediate termination of Laura Sosh-Lightsy, the former assistant dean.
According to screenshots shared by Arlington GOP chairman Matthew Hurtt, Sosh-Lightsy posted on Facebook that Kirk “spoke his fate into existence” and that she had “ZERO Sympathy” for his death. Her comments came after Kirk was shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University and later died from his injuries.
“The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation,” McPhee’s statement read.
READ: FBI Releases Photos Of Person Of Interest In Charlie Kirk Assassination
The remarks sparked immediate public backlash, with calls for her firing from prominent Tennessee figures, including Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn and State Representative Jason Zachary. Both condemned the comments as insensitive and vile.
Sosh-Lightsy’s Facebook account appears to have been deleted following the widespread criticism. In a follow-up post, she reportedly wrote that “hate begets hate” and reiterated her lack of sympathy for Kirk’s death.
READ :Ammo Found In Charlie Kirk Assassination Engraved With Pro-Trans, Anti-Fascist Ideology: WSJ
The shooting of Kirk, who was killed by an unidentified assailant from a rooftop 200 yards away, has led to a broader discussion on political violence.
While some have blamed Republicans and President Donald Trump for the rise in such violence, many of the recent high-profile attacks have targeted conservative figures. In a related development, MSNBC terminated political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested Kirk’s “hate speech” made him a target.
MTSU’s swift action in firing Sosh-Lightsy was a direct response to her comments, with the university extending its “deepest sympathies to the Kirk family.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
