A retired Fort Lewis College professor was caught on camera using strong language – and the middle finger – around students and community members after the student government approved a Turning Point USA chapter on campus.
David Kozak, who formerly taught in the anthropology department, appears to call chapter supporters “fascists” and “Nazis” in a video circulating on social media.
Kozak retired in 2022 and retains the honorary professor emeritus status at the college.
The video was recorded immediately following a Nov. 7 student government meeting that reversed its earlier denial of the Turning Point chapter.
Turning Point USA is a nonprofit that promotes conservative politics on high school and college campuses. It was founded in 2012 by political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed Sept. 10 on the Utah Valley University campus.
The minute-long video begins with Kozak saying, “You’re (expletive) Nazis. Come on, Nazis. Come on, Nazis,” while apparently addressing a group of Turning Point USA supporters in the Student Union lobby.
Someone off screen begins to object, and a woman onscreen interjects, “No, kindness – kill ’em with kindness. Don’t take his bait.”
Several people, including some off camera, urge Kozak to “be calm.”
“I’m totally calm. I’m totally calm,” Kozak responds. He then puts his middle finger in front of a camera and repeats, “(Expletive) the Nazis. (Expletive) the Nazis.”
Someone off screen can be heard saying, “Jesus loves you,” to which Kozak responds, “Oh he does, huh? He loves Nazis, too.”
A woman onscreen responds, “Jesus loves everybody,” to which Kozak says, “He loves fascists, he loves Nazis, he loves haters.”
“You have a very blessed day, sir,” the woman says. The video ends with Kozak responding, “I’m glad you fascist lovers – Nazi lovers – are having (unintelligible). Have a great night.”
Kozak did not immediately respond to request for comment Monday.
Fort Lewis College spokesperson Nardy Bickel declined to comment on the former professor’s behavior. She noted that Kozak has not been employed by the college since his retirement in 2022.
Bickel said the incident has prompted thoughtful dialogue among students about civil discourse, free speech and free expression.
“College is a place for learning, and these discussions – while sometimes challenging –are part of that educational experience,” Bickel told The Durango Herald. “Fort Lewis College remains committed to fostering an environment where complex issues can be explored with respect, curiosity, and care.”
Lively debate has sprung up across campus in response to Turning Point’s presence on campus.
More than 30 students spoke against granting club status to Turning Point at an Oct. 29 student government meeting, where the board voted 5 to 2 to deny the application. Amid backlash, an emergency meeting was held Nov. 7, and the decision was reversed.
The student board did not explain its change of heart at the Nov. 7 meeting.
Kozak’s confrontation with students and community members occurred just outside that meeting.
Bickel reiterated that the discourse surrounding Turning Point’s status has offered valuable lessons for students in freedom of speech, civil discourse and free expression.
“The fact that students are very engaged in that conversation is a good thing,” she said.
epond@durangoherald.com
