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Ball State pays $225K to settle free speech suit over Kirk post

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

Ball State University has agreed to pay $225,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Suzanne Swierc, a former employee who was fired for a private Facebook post criticizing Charlie Kirk. The ACLU represented Swierc, arguing her termination violated her free-speech rights as she was speaking as a private citizen. The university president cited campus disruption and potential harm to enrollment and fundraising as reasons for the firing, but the settlement is significantly less than the cost of litigation. AI

RANK_REASON Settlement of a lawsuit concerning employee free speech rights against a public university. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.0]

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Ball State pays $225K to settle free speech suit over Kirk post

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Settlement of a lawsuit concerning employee free speech rights against a public university. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.0]
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Fortune TIER_1 English(EN) · Russ Bynum, The Associated Press ·

    Ball State fired her over a private Facebook post on Charlie Kirk. Now it’s paying $225,000

    Suzanne Swierc's Kirk post was hidden behind privacy settings until someone took a screenshot. The university called it a disruption.

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