Scholars, free speech advocates back Florida professor fired for ‘offensive’ assignment– www.thecollegefix.com

Professor is suing after South Florida State College president allegedly called assignment ‘political’ and then fired her

A South Florida State College professor is receiving support from a campus free speech group and a faculty alliance after she allegedly was fired for a “political” assignment that offended a student and the institution’s president.

Professor Vinita Prabhakar is suing the South Florida State College District Board of Trustees and President Fred Hawkins for allegedly violating her First Amendment rights. She is represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

“Unfortunately, we see these types of situations all too often …” Greg Greubel, FIRE senior attorney, told The College Fix in a recent email.

He said that no date has been set for the case Prabhakar v. Hawkins yet, as the lawsuit is still in its early stages.

“We believe that the College’s decision to terminate Vinita violated clearly established First Amendment law protecting students’ and professors’ rights to engage with pedagogically relevant materials in the classroom, even when those materials make some students or administrators uncomfortable,” Greubel told The Fix.