Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 30
University of Tennessee Pays $1.9 Million to Settle Professor's Firing Lawsuit
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 30

University of Tennessee Pays $1.9 Million to Settle Professor's Firing Lawsuit

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 30

Summary

  • $1.9 million will go to former anthropology professor Tamar Shirinian under a settlement with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville over her firing.
  • Shirinian sued the university's chancellor, the state university system president and the faculty senate president, alleging retaliation for speech protected by the First Amendment.
  • The dispute stemmed from social media criticism of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which the lawsuit said led to her dismissal on Feb. 11.
  • The payout closes a case that centered on whether a public university violated a faculty member's constitutional free-speech rights.

Insights

After a $1.9M payout for offensive posts, where do universities now draw the line on faculty free speech?
What does this settlement reveal about the financial risks of policing academic speech in the digital age?