NIC instructor out after Kirk comments

COEUR d’ALENE — The North Idaho College instructor accused of making insensitive remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is no longer employed by NIC, The Press confirmed.

NIC Trustee Brad Corkill said the instructor’s employment had ended as of 5 p.m. Monday. The college has not named the instructor publicly.

“I just want the college and community to move forward and put this behind us,” Corkill said Monday. “The death of Charlie Kirk was a tragedy beyond belief.”

Corkill said he could not confirm whether the instructor resigned or was terminated from his position.

“This is a personnel issue and privacy is tantamount,” he said.

NIC administrators became aware of the social media post Sept. 12 and launched an investigation into the matter the same day. Corkill said he could not confirm whether the investigation was complete at the time that the instructor’s employment ended.

By Sept. 13, the instructor was on administrative leave, “in light of escalating tensions and potential threats” to faculty, staff and students, according to a bulletin sent to the college community.

“He will not be on campus,” the bulletin said.

College officials confirmed that NIC was inundated with responses from the public in the wake of the instructor’s post, some of which were “threatening” in nature. The Press reviewed one such message, which contained a link to the instructor’s class schedule and made references to violence against the instructor.

Threatening communications were reported to the police. NIC increased security and law enforcement presence on campus in response to threats, according to the college.

The former NIC instructor is one of many public employees who have faced repercussions for remarks about Kirk’s death.

The Idaho Statesman reported that an Idaho Labor Department employee was fired for comments he made on social media implying Kirk is in hell, while an employee of the West Ada School District was fired after she “posted a video celebrating the shooting of Kirk while wearing a T-shirt representing Meridian High School.”  

A student-teacher in the Vallivue School District in Caldwell resigned after making “inflammatory comments regarding Kirk’s death,” according to the Idaho Statesman.