Auburn University is receiving praise from some of Alabama’s political leaders Wednesday after the school announced the firing of some their employees who “made social media posts that were hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn’s values of respect, integrity and responsibility in violation of our Code of Conduct,” in relation to the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“We are terminating the employment of those individuals. We unequivocally condemn this conduct, which is antithetical to values we hold dear in the Auburn Creed,” Auburn University president Christopher Roberts said in a statement.
“Every member of the Auburn Family has a responsibility to help foster a civil, respectful and supportive campus environment. Actions that endorse, glorify or trivialize violence undermine that responsibility, have no place at Auburn and fall short of the community of respect and integrity we work hard each day to uphold. We take that responsibility seriously.”
While Roberts didn’t specify which employees he was referring to in the statement, the announcement came after a social media post from employee Seth McCollough mocking the death of Kirk was syndicated online.
McCollough is a drag queen who also goes by the name “Colana Bleu.” He previously worked for Drake Middle School, but was also effectively terminated after being exposed for saying he used his platform as a teacher to coach children on gender and sexual topics.
“His children will hopefully be better people now their dad isn’t around to spew his hateful nonsense,” McCollough said on Facebook. “He literally hated me first and you want me to feel empathy for him when he hated empathy. Said so himself? Stay mad I do not care.”
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said Auburn made the right decision.
U.S. SenatorTommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who is also a former Auburn football coach and current candidate for governor, thanked the school for the action against those employees.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is currently running for U.S. Senate, commended the school as well.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
