Identity of Speakers
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Suzanne Swierc
Faculty/Staff
OtherDirector of Health Promotion and Advocacy at Ball State University
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
Social media
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Staff Sanctioned
Litigation
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
Suzanne Swierc, the Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy at Ball State University, filed a lawsuit against University President Geoffrey Mearns, represented by the ACLU of Indiana, after being terminated on September 17, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that her First Amendment rights were violated, claiming the university fired her in direct response to her private social media expression. The lawsuit seeks to have any record of her termination removed and argues that the university’s actions were unconstitutional.
Swierc’s post on Facebook addressed the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. She described his death as a “tragedy” but also criticized the “violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” The post was intended as a personal reflection and private commentary, but it gained public attention when Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita shared it widely, sparking controversy.
Swierc has stated that she does not regret her comments and emphasizes that they reflect her personal beliefs rather than any intent to disrupt university operations. She asserts that her expression falls squarely within her right to free speech.
