AUSTIN (KXAN) — The attorney for a former Texas State University professor Dr. Thomas Alter II sent a statement to KXAN on Tuesday after the university fired him for a second time Monday.
TXST initially fired Alter on Sept. 10 after comments he made at a socialist group’s virtual conference.
“Conduct that advocates for inciting violence is directly contrary to the values of Texas State University. I cannot and will not tolerate such behavior,” TXST President Kelly Damphousse wrote.
Alter filed a lawsuit against the school on Sept. 16, alleging that administrators failed to follow the legally mandated process for terminating a tenured faculty member.
Alter had been reinstated by TXST after a Hays County Judge granted a temporary restraining order against the university on Sept. 26.
A TXST spokesperson told The Texas Tribune Monday evening that it conducted a “thorough review” of Alter’s “conduct and the information provided during his due process hearing.”
“President [Kelly] Damphousse has notified Dr. Alter that his employment at Texas State University is terminated, effective immediately. There will be no further comment on this matter at this time,” the spokesperson said.
In his statement, Alter called the decision a “clear violation” of his First Amendment rights and that it “brings shame, embarrassment and a heavy blow to the academic reputation of Texas State University.”
“To be clear, my termination is part of a broader political attack being carried out by the authoritarian far-right to crush democracy and democratic institutions in the United States in general and Texas in particular. But the charges leveled against me by the Texas State University administration do not stand up to the facts; I have truth on my side and I look forward to my day in court,” wrote Alter in his Tuesday statement.
Alter’s attorney said that the professor will appeal TXST’s most recent decision, then proceed with further litigation.
Impacts felt across campus
On Tuesday, a couple of dozen students and faculty protested the university’s decision to terminate Alter.
“It really raises serious questions about what we’re allowed to do and whether we [signed] over rights when we agreed to take on this job,” said Eric Crawford, a TXST philosophy teacher.
Crawford said Alter was a beloved colleague and is worried his termination will have a chilling effect.
“Many of the faculty members I’ve talked to are under the impression that everything they say should, in theory, be approved by the current administration before it comes out of their mouth — which is ridiculous,” he said.
“It’s critically important that we challenge young people to think in ways different than what they have been conditioned,” he continued. “They should be able to be exposed to a wide array of different ideas. Right now, at Texas State, it feels like that’s being narrowed by our administration.”
On Monday, Damphousse also issued a “special message” to faculty and staff, and said that his decisions “are guided by [his] commitment to ensuring that the mission of [TXST] endures for generations to come.”
“While there are certainly national issues related to higher education that may cause you concern, I acknowledge that you might also be frustrated by things that have happened specifically on our campus,” Damphousse wrote. “I have heard from many of you how these issues affect you. I mourn how these past few weeks may have diminished your faith in my leadership. I get it. I am unable to specifically address personnel and student issues, but please do not mistake that silence for indifference or lack of empathy.”
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