As of Monday, the number of Florida Atlantic University faculty members under investigation for comments related to the murder of Charlie Kirk remained at three.
They are finance professor Rebel Cole, art professor Karen Leader and English professor Kate Polak. They face possible discipline based on a “civil discourse memo” that State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues issued on Sept. 15, five days after Kirk was fatally shot on a college campus in Utah. All three are on administrative leave with pay.
“Celebrating or excusing campus violence—and in this case, the killing of Charlie Kirk—by members of our university system will not be tolerated,” Rodrigues wrote. “Such behavior is abhorrent, has the deleterious effect of promoting further violence and undermines effort to promote civil discourse.
“Accordingly, presidents are directed to review policies, procedures and codes of conduct for employees and students regarding social media postings and other related communications and ensure such measures are deliberately enforced.”
It is relevant to compare Rodrigues’ directive with the State University System’s Statement of Free Expression. “It is equally important,” that statement reads, “not to stifle the dissemination of any ideas, even if other members of our community find those ideas abhorrent … We must not let concerns over civility or respect be used as a reason to silence expression.”
According to news reports, notably those in FAU’s student newspaper University Press, Leader wrote a post that criticized Kirk for his own efforts to target university professors based on speech. She also reposted comments that criticized Kirk for comments that some deemed racist and critical of the LGTBQ community.
In a television interview, Leader defended herself and noted that she had received death threats. In a separate interview, Leader said, “I didn’t say anything or do anything that encouraged violence at all. I did not say or do anything that celebrated his death, that said he deserved it, that in any way, shape or form, condoned violence.”
According to one news report, Polak said of Kirk, “We should be happy for him. He turned into his favorite thing: another gun violence statistic.”
Polak’s department head said of the probe, “The investigation will include a review of your conduct, including, but not limited to, your recent social media posts that the university reasonably believes might disrupt the efficient functioning of the university, and/or jeopardize the safety or welfare of other employees, colleagues, or students.”
Ian MacDonald, who is Polak’s partner, called the situation “frustratingly illegal.”
“We’re preparing ourselves to both fight for the legal right to free speech, which is not only bound in the First Amendment but also a core to the epistemological rationalization of the university in the first place,” said MacDonald.
Polak said she has an attorney. “I want all of my students, regardless of their personal beliefs, to be comfortable. And so I deliver my intellectual content to them, and sometimes that has political dimensions, but I am not pushing any political angle.”
Interestingly, Cole is under investigation for posts in support of Kirk and critical of what he called the “leftist” Leader. On X, Cole wrote of faculty who criticize Kirk, “We are going to hunt you down,” and “We are going to identify you.”
“For challenging disgusting X posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination using my personal X account,” Cole posted, “Florida Atlantic University’s administrators in the Provost’s Office have suspended me and banned me from campus. This has caused grievous damage to my reputation.”
In defending himself, though, Cole defended Leader. “FAU has violated her First Amendment rights, just as it did mine.”
A similar but even more intimidating directive aimed at public school teachers came from Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas. On Sept. 11, he warned against any “despicable comments.” The communication ended with “govern yourself accordingly.” According to news reports, teachers in several counties are under investigation.
In addition, a Palm Beach County School Board member is drawing criticism. Last week, Edwin Ferguson said of Kirk and negative comments that teachers might make, “I, as a teacher don’t miss a racist, a racist bigot at that, I don’t see how you are going to be at risk of losing your teaching certificate.”
Ferguson added, “When we talk about the Holocaust, I have yet to hear a person of the Jewish faith say, ‘I miss Adolf Hitler’ … The things that I have heard from this gentleman, Mr. Kirk, as it relates to the Black experience in this country are definitely things that would make me say I am sorry he passed away, but he did not use his voice effectively.”
In statements, FAU officials have said the university doesn’t comment on personnel matters. It is anyone’s guess as to how all this shakes out. On whose authority did Rodrigues and Kamoutsas issue those directives? Who will define “celebrating” and “despicable?” What punishments could follow? How does President Adam Hasner square Rodrigues’ order with FAU’s own pledge to protect even “abhorrent” ideas?
I’ll have more as developments warrant.
Venue change for Boca downtown campus open houses
The developer of Boca Raton’s proposed downtown redevelopment project has changed the locations of its open houses to accommodate more people.
Terra/Frisbie’s first meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at The Studio at Mizner Park. That’s where Terra/Frisbie held a similar event after the council chose it for the project. Terra/Frisbie’s second open house will be from 4 to 7 p.m. in the city building at 6500 Congress Ave. That’s where the city holds council meetings.
Monday’s city council workshop meeting featured another round of speakers mostly opposing the project. Some criticized Terra/Frisbie’s new website, oneboca.com, which outlines the proposal and asks viewers to express their support. Speakers noted that the site doesn’t restrict comments only to city residents and thus could indicate a false level of support.
The meeting also featured the latest discussion about downtown tennis facilities. Previously, the city had planned to build 10 courts at Meadows Park to replace the 10 at the downtown center that redevelopment would displace. Terra/Frisbie’s new version allows for as many as eight courts and possibly 10.
Mayor Scott Singer sought consensus on which location the council preferred. The best he could get was that the staff and Terra/Frisbie would study both options.
Boca Raton voters to decide on approval of $175 million financing of new police station
Council members showed no hesitation Monday when it came to the city’s proposed police station.
They voted to place on the March ballot a referendum seeking approval of $175 million in bonds to finance the facility next to the Spanish River library. The only question for Chief Michele Miuccio was whether the shift from downtown would result in fewer patrols downtown. Miuccio said it would not. The plan is to keep a 10,000-square-foot substation downtown.
The facility would open in early 2029. City officials have said the police station is separate from downtown redevelopment, as the building—which opened in 1986—needs to be replaced either way.
Delray Beach seeks new way to celebrate LGBTQ community
With the state having removed Delray Beach’s LGBTQ Pride streetscape, city commissioners will discuss next steps at their Oct. 14 workshop meeting.
As they decided not to pursue any challenge of the rule under which the Florida Department of Transportation acted, commissioners informally decided that a replacement for the intersection should rely on private money. Commissioner Rob Long disagreed, saying that the city could use money it now would not spend on challenging the rule. Private money—from LGBTQ advocacy groups—financed the intersection in 2021.
Most commissioners worried that spending public money would invite more scrutiny from the state and thus potentially jeopardize what could be $60 million that the state could withhold. City Manager Terrence Moore said the commission will seek community input on how and where to express the sentiment of “inclusivity” that the previous commission intended with the dedication of the original streetscape.
Moore also said the city may do some “follow-up cleanup” of the intersection in Pineapple Grove after the state’s action. Removing the intersection overrode a local decision that did not harm safety. Indeed, Long noted that the intersection was safer with the street art. The ultimate insult now would come if the state billed the city for its slipshod work.
Park Square project moving to Boca advisory boards
According to the developer’s attorney, the proposed 42-unit Park Square townhouse project just north of Addison Mizner School in Boca Raton has finished staff review and is ready to go before advisory boards.
Neighbors in Boca Square have opposed the project, fearing that it would cause traffic problems. Neighbors also opposed a planned, 128-bed adult living facility on the same 5.6-acre property. The city denied that application in 2022.
The attorney, Ele Zachariades, said the city asked for just one change in the proposal: an “entry feature” on Southwest 12th Avenue. Zachariades said the developer has agreed. Park Square must go before the community appearance and planning and zoning boards before going to the city council.
Developer aims to build luxury homes on former golf course in Boca
Zachariades also represents Toll Brothers, which wants to build luxury homes on the 55 acres that once were a golf course in Boca Raton’s Hidden Valley community. She told me that the original number of 79 houses is now “67, I believe.”
The company, Zachariades said, has held “multiple” meetings with surrounding homeowners that were “not typical” when developers propose converting golf courses to housing. In this case, the main concern was not traffic but “drainage.” In response, Zachariades said, Toll Brothers would build a larger lake than the company had envisioned.
Neighborhood groups have opposed the project. It would need a rezoning from recreational to residential.
