Image Credit: anthropology.utk.edu & Google Earth
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
An assistant professor who was terminated from her position at University of Tennessee (UT) for remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk has filed a lawsuit against the school, saying her free speech rights under the First Amendment were violated.
Tamar Shirinian, an assistant professor of cultural anthropology at UT Knoxville, was initially placed on administrative leave pending termination proceedings after she posted objectionable comments about Kirk, saying the world was “better off without him in it” and calling him a “disgusting psychopath”.
She later wrote an appeal letter to the University Chancellor in hopes that the suspension would be reconsidered, saying her post was “distasteful and heartless”. But the university apparently did not feel inclined to reverse their decision as Shirinian has now moved to legal action.
Filed on Oct. 29, the federal complaint alleges the university, Chancellor Donde Plowman, UT System President Randy Boyd, and Faculty Senate President Charles Noble did not back Shirinian’s First Amendment right to free speech and were more concerned about protecting the university from backlash by donors who put political pressure on the school to fire her.
The suit maintains that her comments were protected under private political speech and requests the university drop the termination proceedings, reinstate her as a full tenure track faculty member, and allow her back in the classroom with financial compensation for back pay, emotional distress, “loss of enjoyment of life”, damages, and attorneys’ and court costs.
During her five years at UT, Shirinian taught numerous classes including Queer Anthropology, Feminist Anthropology, Decolonization, and Ethnographies of Trauma. She has authored “Scholarly & Creative Works” like “The Gender and Sexuality of Armenia”, “Objects of Struggle: Woman, Environment, Colonialism”, and “A Queer Plea for the End of the Nation”. She was making $89,808 as an assistant professor as of Nov. 1, 2024.
“Whatever governmental needs UTK may have as a public employer, they are insufficient to justify gagging Dr. Shirinian’s private right to speak on these matters of great public concern,” the lawsuit says.
Shirinian is not the first fired educator to sue over her employment status as two other former teachers from Rutherford and Williamson Counties are both suing their respective school districts, claiming their terminations over social media posts celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death are a violation of the First Amendment.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn recently highlighted and defended several such terminations during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing titled “Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order”, which featured a discussion between subcommittee members and conservative political commentator Michael Knowles about the role of “left-wing educators” in stoking political violence.
“People that praise violence should not be anywhere near our children. I do not know of a parent that wants their child to be receiving instruction from an individual who glorifies and applauds brutal murder and the murder of a husband, a father, the murder of someone who believes, like me, that our nation has been kept free because we believe in robust, respectful, bipartisan debate,” said Blackburn.
There is not yet a date for a hearing on Shirinian’s complaint, and the University of Tennessee said they cannot comment on ongoing litigation.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
When you are employed by some company or individual. You are part of that company. If they think you have tarnish their reputation, they can fire you. Just because you make an idiotic statement on your own time doesn’t make you exempt from firing or removing you from your position. Just because we have the First Amendment doesn’t allow us to say anything we want. For example yelling “Fire” in a movie theater. In my opinion they should’ve fired her a long time just for the useless class she teaches and the salary they are paying. “During her five years at UT, Shirinian taught numerous classes including Queer Anthropology, Feminist Anthropology, Decolonization, and Ethnographies of Trauma. She has authored “Scholarly & Creative Works” like “The Gender and Sexuality of Armenia”, “Objects of Struggle: Woman, Environment, Colonialism”, and “A Queer Plea for the End of the Nation”. She was making $89,808 as an assistant professor as of Nov. 1, 2024.” Really! I wonder how many students actually took those classes.
Proverbs 15:1 NIV
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 29:20NIV
20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Matthew 12:36,37 NIV
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.