"Austin Peay State University has reinstated a professor who was fired for his social media post after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Tennessee school is also paying the teacher $500,000 in the settlement. Austin Peay spokesperson Brian Dunn said Darren Michael returned to his position as a tenured faculty member at the public university in Clarksville effective 30 December. A copy of the settlement agreement obtained through a public records request includes a $500,000 payment and reimbursement of counseling, as reported earlier this week by WKRN-TV."
"In a 30 December email to the university community, Austin Peay president Mike Licari said the school did not follow the required tenure termination process. The communication was another requirement under the settlement. Licari added: I deeply regret and apologize for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community. I am committed to ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in all future actions. Two days after Kirk's killing, Marsha Blackburn, a Republican senator from Tennessee, posted a screenshot indicating Michael on 10 September had posted the headline of a 2023 news article headlined: Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths Unfortunately' Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment. Blackburn, who is also a candidate for governor, included a photograph and biography of Michael. She wrote: What do you say, Austin Peay State University? and tagged the university's account."
Austin Peay State University reinstated theater and dance professor Darren Michael to his tenured position effective Dec. 30 and is paying a $500,000 settlement plus reimbursement for counseling. Tennessee’s governor, attorney general and comptroller authorized the settlement payment. University communication acknowledged the school did not follow the required tenure termination process. Michael had been suspended after social media posts following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and was among people reporting conservative backlash and punishment at work. Senator Marsha Blackburn publicized a screenshot and Michael’s photo and biography, asking the university to respond.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]