FAU President Hasner's Actions Endanger Campus, Calls for Resignation

Professor Karen J. Leader argues FAU has become less safe under Hasner's leadership, with his response to protests and investigations putting faculty and students at risk.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Karen J. Leader, an associate professor of art history at Florida Atlantic University, argues that FAU President Adam Hasner's actions since taking office in 2025 have made the campus less safe, damaged the university's reputation, and wasted resources. She calls for Hasner to resign, citing his signing of a 287(g) agreement with ICE, his heavy-handed response to student protests, and his mishandling of investigations into faculty members following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk.

Why it matters

This story highlights growing concerns about the leadership and priorities of university presidents, particularly when it comes to balancing campus safety, free speech, and ideological agendas. Hasner's actions have eroded trust between the administration and the FAU community, putting students and faculty at risk.

The details

Shortly after taking office in 2025, Hasner signed a 287(g) agreement, forcing FAU's police department to collaborate with ICE. Despite repeated requests, he has lacked transparency about the details of this agreement. When students organized a protest against the ICE partnership in September 2025, Hasner approved a heavy-handed law enforcement response, including the presence of horse-mounted police and rooftop snipers. Several days later, following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, Hasner publicly announced the administrative leave of three faculty members, including Leader, sparking a wave of death threats and leading to increased security measures on campus, such as police cruisers and surveillance towers.

  • Hasner assumed the role of FAU President on March 10, 2025.
  • On September 5, 2025, students organized a protest against the 287(g) agreement with ICE.
  • Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on a Tuesday in late 2025.
  • By Saturday, following Kirk's assassination, Leader was placed on administrative leave.
  • The investigation into Leader and two other faculty members concluded that they could not be disciplined, and the two with tenure were reinstated, while the colleague without tenure was not rehired.

The players

Adam Hasner

The president of Florida Atlantic University since March 2025, who has faced criticism for his actions that have made the campus less safe, damaged the university's reputation, and wasted resources.

Karen J. Leader

An associate professor of art history at Florida Atlantic University who has taught at the university since 2009 and has become a sought-after speaker on free speech and political violence.

Charlie Kirk

A right-wing podcaster who was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University, sparking a crisis at FAU after Leader and two other faculty members were placed on administrative leave following the incident.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Although Hasner received a unanimous vote from the Board of Trustees, he was not the choice of the FAU community. Faculty recognized his lack of experience, either as academic or administrator.”

— Karen J. Leader, Associate Professor of Art History (sun-sentinel.com)

“What should have been a manageable communications situation was, because of Hasner's announcement, now a full-blown crisis. Social media influencers that make a tidy living off fostering outrage featured my faculty headshot and posted it with Hasner's announcement. The death threats poured in, not just to my voice mail and email, but also to my department, the dean's office and the president's office.”

— Karen J. Leader, Associate Professor of Art History (sun-sentinel.com)

What’s next

The investigation into Leader and the other faculty members has concluded, and the two with tenure have been reinstated, while the colleague without tenure was not rehired. The university community continues to grapple with the fallout from Hasner's actions and calls for his resignation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of university leadership that prioritizes campus safety, academic freedom, and transparent communication with the broader community. Hasner's actions have eroded trust and put students and faculty at risk, underscoring the need for FAU to reconsider its leadership and chart a new course that better serves the interests of the university and its stakeholders.