Ball State settles free-speech dispute over employee's Charlie Kirk post for $225,000

An ACLU-backed lawsuit over Suzanne Swierc's firing from Ball State University after a private Facebook post criticizing Charlie Kirk has been settled for $225,000. The ACLU says the firing violated her First Amendment rights as she spoke as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, while Ball State argues the post caused significant campus disruption and risk to enrollment and donations. The settlement resolves the federal suit without a trial and underscores ongoing debates over free speech on social media by government employers.