UPDATE: One professor retiring, one fired at ETSU for Charlie Kirk postings

A message posted by communication officials at ETSU on Thursday says one of the professors placed on administrative leave because of a negative social media post about the death of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk plans to leave and retire while the other is being fired for cause.

The two faculty members, who were not mentioned by name in the ETSU statement, were suspended one week ago after numerous complaints about their Kirk comments, including local government officials and school president Brian Noland.

Published reports identified the professors as Biomedical Sciences instructor Russell Brown and Communication Studies co-chair Andrew Herrmann. Those reports said Herrmann is the retiree while the process to terminate the employment of Brown will continue.

With those administrative decisions, published information says five Tennessee colleges have either fired or suspended employees in the past week for similar comments.

(IMAGE: File Graphic)