​University of South Dakota Professor Fired for Insensitive Post Following Death of Charlie Kirk

Northeast Radio News SD - Vermillion, SD - A University of South Dakota (USD) art professor has been terminated after making a series of insensitive remarks online regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose murder sent shockwaves across the nation.

​On Friday, the South Dakota Board of Regents confirmed the termination of Phillip Michael Hook, a 62-year-old faculty member at the university’s College of Fine Arts. The decision was made following a now-deleted Facebook post in which Hook reacted to Kirk’s killing.

​In the post, Hook reportedly referred to Kirk as a “hate spreading Nazi” and suggested that his family might benefit from his death, stating he had "no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading Nazi." The post also compared the national outrage over Kirk's death to a perceived lack of concern for other instances of violence, including the shootings of politicians in Minnesota, school shootings, and attacks on Capitol Police.

Image of tweet by Michael Hook

​The post quickly drew public backlash and condemnation from political figures and members of the public. The university's administration and the Board of Regents acted swiftly, with the Board's decision leading to Hook's immediate termination. The university has not provided further comment on the matter, citing personnel privacy concerns.

​Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed earlier this week while speaking at a college event in Utah. His death has been widely condemned as a political assassination and has sparked a nationwide conversation about political violence and discourse.