A retired anthropology professor unleashed a furious verbal attack on supporters of a conservative student group, labelling them 'Nazis' and 'fascists' in a heated campus confrontation. The incident occurred on November 7 at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, after the student government reversed its decision to block a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
Heated Confrontation Captured on Video
David Kozak, a former professor who retired in 2022, was filmed in an explosive exchange. The video, shared widely by Libs of TikTok on X, showed Kozak directing his anger at the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (ASFLC). He was heard shouting, 'Go on, fascists. Go on, Nazi lovers' and 'f*** the Nazi's' towards the camera.
A woman attempted to block him from the supporters, stating, 'There's no need for that we haven't said anything to you. Thank you.' The situation escalated when a member of the crowd told Kozak that Jesus loved him, prompting a sarcastic retort. 'Oh, he does? And he loves Nazi's too, huh? Fascists?' Kozak responded. The woman countered that 'Jesus loves everybody,' to which Kozak replied, 'He loves fascists, he loves Nazi's, he loves haters.'
Background of the Campus Dispute
The dramatic display came directly after the ASFLC held an emergency meeting and ultimately approved the TPUSA chapter, a reversal of their earlier stance. The initial decision to block the group had sparked significant backlash. A student-backed petition, which gathered hundreds of signatures, had argued that TPUSA's presence would harm the campus community.
The petition highlighted that at a college with many Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and students of colour, the organisation's actions 'cannot be ignored.' It cited TPUSA's plans to host a transphobic activist on Transgender Remembrance Day and its role in petitions to reinstate gendered bathrooms as examples of activities that 'spread division, intolerance, and fear.'
Free Speech Versus Student Safety
In contrast, a student named Flynn, who led the effort to establish the chapter, argued that the block was an attack on free expression. The student body president, Asa Worthington, stated that while many personal morals had to be set aside, 'the safety of our student body' was the top priority.
Critics of the chapter also pointed to TPUSA's 'professor watchlist', an initiative created by its founder, the late Charlie Kirk. This watchlist aimed to 'unmask' professors accused of discriminating against conservative students and faced backlash for potentially endangering educators.
Following the vote, Fort Lewis College issued a statement confirming Kozak's retired status and reaffirming its commitment to 'free expression and civil discourse.' The college said the association's change of heart reflected a 'commitment to fair governance, educational growth, and consistent policy application.'
