Wingate University: Professor Fired for Protected Speech on Social Media

On July 14, 2024, Wingate University professor Amanda Stanford posted two Facebook comments about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump: “I’m begging y’all to care like this when it’s a third grade classroom instead of an ear” and “How this kid missed is ridiculous.” Another Facebook user posted screenshots of Stanford’s comments to his profile, noting Stanford’s employment at Wingate and tagging the university. On July 17, the Facebook user posted a screenshot of an email from a Wingate spokesperson confirming Stanford was no longer employed at the university. FIRE wrote Wingate on July 26, urging it to reinstate Stanford because Wingate’s stated commitment to academic freedom and free expression protects Stanford’s right to express herself on matters of public concern, even when others take offense.