On Oct. 16, 2025, Auburn University lecturer, Dr. Candice Hale spoke out on her personal social media accounts regarding her recent employment terminations from Auburn University and The University of Alabama.
Hale's Facebook and Instagram posts come only about a month after Auburn University released an official statement on Sept. 17, regarding the termination of employees because of prior statements not lining up with university values.
Hale was a lecturer of English at Auburn, teaching composition, world literature and African American literature.
Her original statement on Facebook was made on Sept. 11 after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
The statement reads: "I do not mourn oppressors. I do not show them empathy. I don't give a damn about evil racist, fascist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, mediocre, white men who claim to be Christian and then do everything Christ would not do on Earth."
Her Oct. 17 statement was posted to Facebook, in which she discussed her employment status. In her statement, Hale claims she was treated as a "threat" by the University.
When contacted about insight into what being labeled as a "threat" means, Scott Forehand, the director of compliance, investigations and security for Auburn Unviersity, and Chris Hardman, a behavioral threat assessment coordinator for the University, have yet to respond.
Upon her termination, Hale filed a lawsuit in federal court, citing First Amendment violations at both Auburn University and The University of Alabama.
Since her termination, Hale has been banned from campus.
This story is developing and will be updated, as more information is disclosed.
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Brychelle Brooks, senior majoring in public and professional writing with a minor in information systems, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since August 2023. She previously served as the Campus Reporter, Opinion Editor and Newsletter Editor. She is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief.
