KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville announced Monday that it had placed a faculty member on administrative leave after alleged "actions endorsing violence and murder."

A UTK spokesperson confirmed the incident involved comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was recently shot and killed.

The faculty member is out of the classroom and termination proceedings have begun, UTK said. The university said she failed to meet its expectations for civic engagement and that her actions don't represent its values.

"Teaching and shaping the lives of young people is core to the mission of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville," UTK posted Monday afternoon, "We have a great responsibility as educators of America’s future leaders to make sure students have a

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