A public university in Tennessee has been forced to reinstate a professor it dismissed and pay him a substantial settlement, after admitting it failed to follow proper procedures when firing him over a social media post related to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Settlement and Reinstatement
Austin Peay State University has formally reinstated Professor Darren Michael to his tenured position and agreed to a financial settlement totalling $500,000. The payment, which also covers counselling costs, was authorised by Tennessee's governor, attorney general, and comptroller.
University spokesperson Brian Dunn confirmed that Michael's reinstatement was effective from 30 December. The settlement agreement was obtained via a public records request and its details were first reported by WKRN-TV.
A Failure of Due Process
In a campus-wide email sent on 30 December, Austin Peay President Mike Licari stated the institution "did not follow the required tenure termination process." The communication was a mandated part of the settlement.
Licari expressed regret, saying, "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."
Political Pressure and Backlash
The controversy began after the fatal shooting of conservative figure Charlie Kirk in September. Professor Michael, who teaches theatre and dance, was among those who reported facing a conservative backlash for online posts about the incident.
Two days after Kirk's death, Republican US Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who is also a gubernatorial candidate, circulated a screenshot. It showed a post by Michael from 10 September featuring a 2023 news headline: "Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment."
Blackburn included Michael's photograph and biography, directly addressing the university with: "What do you say, Austin Peay State University?" tagging the institution's account. Michael was initially fired and later moved to suspension status. His attorney, David L. King, argued the professor said "nothing that was threatening or otherwise offensive" and condemned the pressure from "outside forces."
King stated the ordeal "caused a great deal of harm" to Michael and his daughter. Senator Blackburn's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the settlement.
