Suzanne Swierc Terminated at Ball State After Disgraceful Post on Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Outrage
The assassination of Charlie Kirk shook countless Americans. For many, it was not just the loss of a voice, but the loss of someone who stood boldly for values they believed in. In moments like that, people expect compassion, even from those who disagreed with him. Instead, Suzanne Swierc, who held a leadership role as Director of Health Promotion & Advocacy at Ball State University, decided to take a different path. On social media, she called his death a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.”
Those words landed like a punch to the gut. For Kirk’s family, friends, and supporters, already grieving, they felt like salt poured into an open wound. The backlash was immediate and intense. Parents, students, and community members all demanded accountability. Ball State listened, and on September 18, the university announced Swierc’s termination. Their reasoning was simple: her comments caused “significant disruption” and showed a lack of the leadership expected from someone in her position.
This was not about silencing free speech — it was about responsibility. When you hold a role that involves health, advocacy, and the wellbeing of students, you are held to a higher standard. You are expected to lead with empathy, not mock grief. Instead, Swierc used a tragedy to score a political point, and that decision cost her the job.
Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita spoke out clearly, condemning her remarks and praising the university for taking swift action. Many others agreed. At a time when so many Americans are mourning, celebrating or excusing the death of a public figure — even one you may disagree with — is unacceptable. Swierc forgot that disagreement does not erase humanity, and leadership is not about indulging personal spite.
Ball State’s decision has sent a strong message: respect matters, even in disagreement. Words have consequences, especially when they come from those in positions of influence over students. The reaction from the public shows just how deeply people value decency and how tired they are of cruelty being dressed up as honesty.
For supporters of Charlie Kirk, the firing is a small measure of justice, a reminder that mocking someone’s death is not just insensitive — it’s disqualifying for anyone entrusted with guiding young people. The university stood firm, and in doing so, restored some faith that accountability still exists.
Swierc’s downfall serves as a warning to others: leadership means holding yourself to a higher bar. When tragedy strikes, compassion should be the first instinct, not bitterness. Ball State did the right thing, and the message is clear — cruelty will not be tolerated under the cover of professional authority.
