Jensen alleges executives punished him for speaking out against education changes
A Nevada doctor who says he was punished for criticizing his school’s selection to lower math requirements won a triumph in pertains court Tuesday.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court “erroneously” dismissed Professor Lars Jensen’s case against Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, according to a media release from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
The judge also concluded that school administrators good violated Jensen’s free speech rights when they disciplined him for speaking out.
” The college’s actions tarnished my reputation and chilled my speech”, Jensen ( pictured ) stated in the news release. ” The Ninth Circuit’s choice vindicates my First Amendment right and allows me to own my time in court”.
The magistrates sent Jensen’s case up to the district judge level for evaluation, decision:
Jensen pleaded a First Amendment violation because ( 1 ) Jensen’s criticism of the changes in the college mathematics curriculum addressed a matter of public concern, ( 2 ) the speech, related to scholarship or teaching, was not barred from First Amendment protection, even if Jensen spoke pursuant to his official duties, ( 3 ) Jensen sufficiently alleged that the adverse employment actions were motivated, at least in part, by his speech, and ( 4 ) the Administrators had not made a showing of an’ actual, material and substantial disruption’ or ‘ reasonable predictions of disruption’ to support their claim that the state’s interests outweighed Jensen’s.
” This choice is a major victory for the free speech rights of researchers”, FIRE counsel Daniel Ortner, who is representing Jensen, said in the media release. ” This determination will defend professors from analysis or threats of cancellation for their speech, and encourage accountability for officials who violate the First Amendment”.
The school media relations department did not immediately return an message Tuesday from The Fix asking for its reaction to the decision.
The situation stems from incidents that occurred in 2020 and 2021 regarding Jensen’s opposition to proposed education adjustments. He said the changes generally allowed remedial math classes to qualify for school breaks, The College Fix reported recently.
One of the problems officials cited was a brochure Jensen created and passed out at a school celebration. In the flier, he criticized the proposed shifts, saying a student may be allowed to graduate from college while only being “ready for middle class math”, according to the media release.
College officials accused him of “insubordination” for continuing to hand out the brochure after he was asked no to, and afterwards began cancellation trials against him.
But, in 2021, a instructors review committee determined that he should not get fired, The Fix reported at the time.
Less: College will never fire professor who defended demanding math standards
IMAGE: KOLO 8 Information
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