By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Fort Hays State University assistant professor says FHSU's review into her is still ongoing as she is discussing options with a legal team in case her First Amendment rights have been violated.
Nuchelle Chance of the psychology department has raised more than $1,600 through her GoFundMe. She said her main concern is the double standard she believes exists at the university.
"How can some of my other FHSU colleagues say some of the most truly egregious and bigoted things on social media or even on campus and face little to no repercussion," she said.
"I can't help but think [correlationally] that if I was white, no one would have targeted me. The irony of being the only Black American woman on the faculty doing applied social justice work in rural Kansas isn't lost on me."
Hays Post reached out to Scott Cason, FHSU’s chief communications officer, and said he is not aware of other faculty making these comments.
Chance is seeking to raise $50,000, according to the fundraiser’s description, to cover legal fees and help with living expenses while she is without a paycheck.
Cason said FHSU is handling the situation as a confidential personnel matter but is aware of Chance’s social media posts about her employment status and her stated intentions as she moves through the process.
On Sept. 10, the day Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University, Chance posted the following:
Since then, Chance said she has been doxxed and received threats severe enough that she felt compelled to move her children out of Hays for their safety.
"I'm overwhelmed and disgusted. My health has been suffering, but as a millennial, I find that the moments of humor are keeping me grounded," Chance said.
Chance said she has also received an outpouring of support from colleagues, friends, students and community members.
In a recent social media post, Chance said she has been receiving support from the American Association of University Professors, an organization that helps uphold academic freedom standards in higher education.
On Sept. 29, Cason said in a press release that the university is aware of content on the X account Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media account on X with 4.4 million followers, linking a faculty member to social media posts about Charlie Kirk.
"Individuals who post commentaries to their personal social media accounts do not speak for the University, nor does their commentary reflect the views or values of this university," Cason said in a past statement from the university.
Cason said FHSU is reviewing the situation as a confidential personnel matter and asks for patience as they address it.
SEE RELATED STORY: FHSU assistant professor under review for posts about Charlie Kirk
"I make no apologies as nothing I stated was inaccurate, libelous, slanderous, immoral, etc.," Chance said in response to Hays Post. "I speak truth. Is it controversial and even sometimes inflammatory? It can be, but if it offends then my message is to do better."
Chance initially defended her Facebook posts about the assassination of Kirk in a TikTok video.
"In my post, I just stated that there's karma," Chance said in the TikTok video. "There's irony associated with that, and that's by no means to celebrate someone's death."
Chance also made the following post that resulted in Libs of TikTok to further draw attention to her and bring them to FHSU’s awareness:
The university also shared its press release on its X page, where Libs of TikTok responded with criticism.
"Sorry, but I don't have 'patience' for professors who call white Americans 'dangerous animals' and mock the murder of a young father. This statement says absolutely nothing," the X post said.
On Oct. 14, a Politico article revealed Kansas Young Republicans chairman Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix took part in a Telegram group chat, which included references to white supremacy and suppression of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Chance made a social media post saying, "This scandal exposes real racism, real violence and real threats coming from individuals with political power and proximity to our institutions."
"If we can swiftly condemn encrypted hate speech from political operatives, we must also protect educators who face retaliation for public scholarship rooted in data, ethics and lived experience."
The FHSU College Republicans issued a statement condemning Kansas Young Republicans for sending texts with violent, racist and antisemtic rhetroic.
FHSU College Republicans react to Kansas Young Republicans racist chats