‘Lost confidence.’ Records show why Clemson fired 3 over Charlie Kirk posts
Following the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in September, students and state legislators pressured Clemson University to fire several staff members after they had made social media posts about the assassination.
Days later, two professors and another employee were terminated.
Officials told them it was for “blatantly unprofessional conduct” that violated Clemson standards and disrupted the university’s responsibilities, according to records obtained by The State through a public records request.
But legal experts told The State that Clemson could face litigation for its actions.
Most Clemson employee speech is protected under the First Amendment because it is a public institution. The only exception is “fighting words,” or statements that incite immediate violence. If the speech had disrupted the classroom setting, that may also be considered.
Joshua Bregy
Joshua Bregy had been an assistant professor in Clemson’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences since January 2023. He was fired Sept. 15.
Following Kirk’s death, Bregy shared a post written on another Facebook profile.
“Let me preface this post by saying that violence is never okay and as much as I dislike someone and their cruel ideas, I would never want their life to be taken in an act of violence,” the post read. “... but it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic. As Kirk said, ‘play certain games, win certain prizes.’”
In a Sept. 16 termination letter obtained by The State, Clemson Provost Robert Jones wrote Bregy. He said the university’s Faculty Manual provides for a dismissal of an untenured faculty member “for cause,” which is defined to include “actions that could reasonably be construed as having extremely adverse effects upon Clemson University” and “blatantly unprofessional conduct.”
Jones claimed that the post threatened to disrupt Clemson’s ability to carry out teaching and other responsibilities.
“Suggesting that a murdered person deserved to be killed showed extremely poor judgment, and as a result you have irretrievably jeopardized your ability to serve as an intellectual guide and counselor to students,” Jones wrote. “I have also lost confidence in your professional fitness to continue to serve as a faculty member and your ability to be effective in the classroom.”
Bregy was required to return all university property, and was disallowed from working with or contacting Clemson students in ways that would lead them to believe he is still affiliated with the school, according to the letter.
Bregy filed a federal lawsuit against the school in October. The school violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution the lawsuit alleged.
“There is no question” that Bregy was fired for engaging in protected speech, the lawsuit said. Clemson “caved” to pressure, according to the lawsuit. Only hours after promising an individualized investigation, Clemson Provost Robert Jones advocated for Bregy’s firing.
According to the latest court filings, there is active mediation in the case.
Melvin Villaver Jr.
Melvin Villaver Jr., who had been an assistant professor in the Department of Music and a Faculty-In-Residence in university housing since May 2023, was fired Sept. 16.
Villaver shared a repost on social media that said “Charlie Kirk recently said to a Palestinian that there’s no such thing as Palestinians. Well now look… there’s no longer such a thing called Charlie Kirk.”
He replied with a post that read “I think it’s awesome how the Earth heals itself… and one day we will all be free.”
Villaver also made several other posts.
His dismissal was based on “blatantly unprofessional conduct,” according to a Sept. 16 termination letter from Jones.
“As I told you when we met to discuss this matter, your multiple social media posts regarding this murder very soon after it occurred were irresponsible and unprofessional,” Jones wrote. “They did not show due restraint or respect.”
Jones said Villaver had identified himself as a Clemson professor and “made no effort to state that your views did not represent the views of Clemson University.”
Like Bregy’s, Jones said the posts posed a threat of disruption to the university’s teaching and other responsibilities.
“Speaking favorably or positively about the murder of a speaker on a college campus in front of students showed extremely poor judgment, and as a result you have irretrievably jeopardized your ability to serve as an intellectual guide and counselor to students,” Jones wrote.
Like Bregy, Villaver was required to return all university property and was told he could not communicate with Clemson students in a way that would lead them to believe he is still affiliated with the school, according to the letter.
Robin Newberry
Robin Newberry, who had been an asbestos program manager in the university’s Division of Finance and Operations for more than 30 years, was fired on Sept. 15.
“In a world full of Charlie Kirks and Brian Thompsons, be a Tyler Robinson or a Luigi Mangione,” Newberry had posted.
Joy Patton, Clemson’s director of staff and faculty relations, told Newberry his conduct was “unbecoming” to a state employee, according to a Sept. 15 termination letter obtained by The State.
“At best your post calls into question your judgment and has caused serious disruption within the University from the public’s perception that the content of your post was endorsed by or attributable to the University,” Patton wrote. “At worst, you have called for lawlessness and violence in a campus setting – an unimaginable horror and legitimate cause for concern among faculty, staff, students, parents, and our community.”
Newberry was asked to return all university property, and was told he could grieve the termination in accordance with state law and the University’s grievance policy.
