Ball State settles free-speech lawsuit over Charlie Kirk post for $225K

The ACLU announced Ball State University will pay $225,000 to Suzanne Swierc to settle a federal suit claiming firing her over a private Facebook post criticizing Charlie Kirk violated her First Amendment rights, since she spoke as a private citizen on a matter of public concern. Ball State says the post caused significant campus disruption and backlash, while the university’s president described the settlement as a modest payment compared with litigation. The case fits a broader pattern of employees at public and private entities receiving six-figure settlements after posting about Kirk.