Introduction to the Investigation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation into the University of North Texas for failing to “ward off left-wing violence” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. In September, Paxton urged the public university to investigate a student’s allegations that she was removed from class for denouncing the conservative influencer’s assassination when others celebrated it. UNT President Harrison Keller said at the time that the school was reviewing the incident.
Background of the Incident
In a letter Thursday, Paxton said the school has not disciplined any of the students who cheered for Kirk’s assassination. He wants university officials to expel them.
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“In the face of left-wing terror being celebrated and the threatening of students, UNT leadership has chosen to do next to nothing. That’s outrageous,” Paxton said in a release. “Thus far, there has been zero school officials fired, zero students expelled, and zero accountability from UNT as the campus is overrun by left-wing extremists violently threatening anyone who disagrees with them.”
University Response
In an email statement to The Dallas Morning News, UNT said, “The University of North Texas holds the safety of its students as a primary responsibility and takes the allegations reported to Attorney General Paxton seriously. UNT will cooperate fully with the Attorney General’s investigation, and will continue the university’s thorough review of the matter while respecting the confidentiality of those processes.“
Paxton announced he would be launching a wider probe into the school’s “approach to left-wing violence on campus,” saying he believes “radical leftist groups that promote violent rhetoric” have started targeting students following Kirk’s assassination.
He pointed to a video posted on social media by Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Denton, of a student taking materials at a Turning Point USA tabling event on UNT’s campus and tearing them up.
“For too long, universities have permitted the growth of this dangerous far-left ideology,” Paxton wrote in his letter. “Educational institutions cannot be incubators of violent radical leftists.”
Incident Details
Paxton’s initial letter to the school stemmed from a video posted to social media on Sept. 10, the day Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University. The video, filmed by a student, appeared to show other students at a UNT classroom watching the video of his assassination. The student filming can be heard saying, “Why are we cheering someone getting shot?”
In a later video, the student said her professor told her the group should “probably take this outside.” When the student, who said she had received threats in the aftermath of the incident, took her concerns to Associate Dean Kacey Sebeniecher, she was told she could drop the class or transfer, according to Paxton’s letter.
Paxton said the incident showed multiple violations of the student code of conduct and the employee ethics policy. He also alleged the university’s free speech policy was violated.
At the time, Keller said the school was “conducting a thorough review of recent actions by a few of our community members.”
Radical Leftist Groups
In Thursday’s letter, Paxton pointed to two “radical leftist” student groups that he believes are promoting violence on campus, including the Denton Student Union and the American Iron Front.
Paxton noted the Denton Student Union is listed as a chapter of the Revolutionary Student Union, which works to align “the student struggle with the working class movement,” according to its website. He said posters from the American Iron Front, a group committed to defending democracy and fighting fascism, have been found on campus.
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Free Speech and Violence on Campus
The incident at UNT is part of a larger conversation around free speech that has emerged at Texas universities after Kirk’s assassination. In the days that followed, Texas leaders called for the removal or firing of students and teachers who criticized Kirk or cheered for his death.
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A Texas State student was expelled and a Texas Tech student was arrested. The Texas Education Agency is investigating hundreds of complaints about teachers’ “reprehensible and inappropriate” social media posts.
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State Response to the Incident
Lawmakers created a committee after Kirk’s death to study bias, discourse and freedom of speech at Texas schools, and put forth recommendations to ensure free expression and the security of political gatherings on campuses.
Gov. Greg Abbott has characterized the firings and removals as a remedy to the “problem in our society” of people celebrating Kirk’s assassination.
“We have dramatic course correction that we have to take in this state,” Abbott said at a bill signing in September. “And a place where we can engage in that course correction is in our schools, in our campuses.”
Conclusion
The investigation into the University of North Texas is a significant development in the ongoing conversation about free speech and violence on campus. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the role of universities in promoting free speech and ensuring the safety of students. As the investigation continues, it is essential to consider the implications of the incident and the potential consequences for students, teachers, and the university as a whole.
FAQs
Q: What is the University of North Texas being investigated for?
A: The University of North Texas is being investigated for failing to “ward off left-wing violence” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Q: What happened to the student who denounced Charlie Kirk’s assassination?
A: The student
