The Pennsylvania professor who criticized Charlie Kirk after the murder is still working
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The University of Pennsylvania professor who sparked controversy by disparaging Charlie Kirk shortly after his murder is still working at the university, drawing backlash from some who accuse the Ivy League institution of not taking political violence seriously.
Michael Mann, a climate scientist who served as vice provost for climate science, policy, and labor at the University of Pennsylvania, Advertise on their website Last week he announced he was stepping down from the position in a move he says was his own decision and based on the “science policy advocacy work” he has been doing.
This announcement came about two weeks later It sparked a firestorm By retweeting multiple posts critical of Kirk in the wake of his assassination, leading to calls for his dismissal.
Despite the self-imposed punishment, Mann remains a tenured professor at the university and is listed on the school’s website, calling into question what punishment, if any, Penn has imposed on Mann for his posts criticizing Kirk as professors and administrators across the country. Suspended or expelled For similar posts.
The headmaster who called Kirk’s assassination “just” is no longer working
A University of Pennsylvania professor is still working despite courting controversy by disparaging Charlie Kirk shortly after his murder. (AP)
Mann is still listed on the school’s website as director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and Media.
“I don’t understand why Ben continues to employ Mann,” Steve Milloy, a senior policy fellow at the Chartered Institute for Energy and Environment and a former member of Trump’s EPA team, told Fox News Digital, adding that if the school was behind Mann losing his dean position, “why wouldn’t that have been enough to terminate his academic appointment as well?”
Mann’s controversial moves after Kirk’s death included retweeting multiple posts criticizing Kirk, including one from Max Granger mocking Ezra Klein’s New York Times column about the conservative activist, which said, “Ezra Klein: I’ve had my differences with the head of Trump’s Hitler Youth, but we both want the same thing: Make America great again.”
He retweeted another post in Klein’s “Charlie Kirk Was Doing Politics the Right Way” column, calling it a “whitewash” of Kirk’s legacy. Mann himself posted that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox “had all the thoughts and prayers at the press conference” and included a link to Everytown, a gun control advocacy group, regarding the Cox bill he previously signed.
Experts warn that left-wing celebrations of Charlie Kirk’s death indicate a dangerous shift in politics
Michael E. Mann is seen outside H.C. Court. Carl Moultrie on February 5, 2024 (Pete Keyhart for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Mann later explained his actions, saying: “I was simply agreeing with the (widespread) criticism of Ezra Klein’s claim that Kirk was ‘doing politics the right way.’ I disagree with the inappropriate and inflammatory language used to describe Kirk (which I ignored. I deleted).
Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick called for Penn to take “immediate” and “decisive” action against Mann shortly after his posts.
Penn did not directly respond to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital specifically regarding the disciplinary action taken for Mann and whether the school was behind his decision to step down as vice provost.
A Pennsylvania spokesperson directed Fox News Digital to Mann’s announcement.
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Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, enters the arena and speaks with supporters. (Getty)
Ben Provost John Jackson Jr He said in a comment The Daily Pennsylvanian reported that Mann was not fired or “fired” as vice provost.
Since the controversy, Mann has been active on social media to promote his new book, “Science Under Siege,” which exposes the “dangerous anti-science movement.”
On September 30th Share XMann thanked the University of Hong Kong for recently bestowing an honorary degree on him at a ceremony in China, where he said it was a “pleasure” to “enjoy the treasures of this amazing city!”
Mann, who has drawn the wrath of conservatives over the years and been accused of being a climate activist, is no stranger to controversial posts on social media.
In 2022, he posted on Twitter that the Republican Party should be “destroyed,” and earlier this year said “we’re in 2nd Amendment territory” in a potential threat if President Trump did not abide by the judge’s ruling.
Mann did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.