The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is proceeding with the termination of an assistant professor following a controversial social media post. Chancellor Donde Plowman defended the decision before the Faculty Senate, stating the professor’s comments harmed the university's reputation, a move that has drawn unified criticism from faculty members who argue it infringes on free speech.
Key Takeaways
- University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman is seeking to fire Assistant Professor Tamar Shirinian over a social media comment.
- Shirinian's post stated "the world is better off" following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- The Chancellor cited harm to the university's reputation and a violation of professional conduct as reasons for the action.
- Faculty members have unanimously spoken out against the decision, raising concerns about academic freedom and inconsistent enforcement of university policies.
Chancellor Plowman Outlines Reasons for Termination
During a tense Faculty Senate meeting on September 22, Chancellor Donde Plowman addressed a packed room, explaining her decision to suspend and seek the dismissal of Assistant Professor Tamar Shirinian. Plowman detailed three primary justifications for what she described as "swift action."
First, she argued that the professor violated the university’s expectations for civil and professional engagement. Second, Plowman stated the faculty member's actions "undermined the mission and the focus of the university."
Finally, and most significantly, the Chancellor emphasized the damage done to the institution's public standing.
"Harmed the reputation of the university," Plowman stated. "Our reputation is something we have built over the years, and I’m the steward – as are all of you, I would say – of that reputation... I thought that action actually harmed the reputation of the university considerably.”
Disciplinary Process Explained
According to Chancellor Plowman, Professor Shirinian has received written notice of the charges against her and an explanation of the evidence. She will have an opportunity to refute these charges. If the termination proceeds, Shirinian can request a hearing before a special committee composed of faculty members.
The Chancellor also acknowledged the need for clearer guidelines, expressing openness to working with the Faculty Senate to develop new policies regarding social media use in relation to the faculty code of conduct and free speech principles.
Faculty Express Unanimous Opposition
Following the Chancellor's remarks, several faculty members addressed the administration, with all speakers voicing strong opposition to the disciplinary measures against Shirinian. They raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom, and the precedent being set by the university.
Nora Berenstain, a philosophy professor, delivered a pointed statement, praising Shirinian's contributions. "While this institution does not deserve Tamar, her students do and your actions have deprived them of an exceptionally brilliant scholar, teacher and mentor who was also a fierce advocate for free speech,” Berenstain told Plowman.
The sentiment of fear and uncertainty was palpable among the faculty. Michael Gilchrist, an associate professor in ecology and evolutionary biology, conveyed the anxiety felt by his colleagues and students. "My main message is we’re scared. My students are scared," he said. "We need leadership... we need cooperation to get through this very, very dark time.”
Concerns Over Precedent and Political Influence
A central point of contention for the faculty was the university's handling of a past incident involving a different professor. Berenstain drew a direct comparison to a 2016 tweet by law professor Glenn Reynolds, who wrote "run them down" in reference to protestors. Reynolds was not disciplined for his post and remains a professor at the university.
A Tale of Two Controversies
- 2016 Incident: Law professor Glenn Reynolds tweeted "run them down" about protestors. He faced no disciplinary action from the university.
- Current Incident: Assistant Professor Tamar Shirinian wrote "the world is better off" after an activist's death. She was suspended and faces termination.
"It’s certainly noteworthy that the university will not condemn actual white supremacist and antisemitic hate speech, but will publicly frame a queer, feminist professor for quote ‘celebrating or advocating violence or murder’ for a Facebook comment that does neither,” Berenstain argued.
Journalism professor Amber Roessner voiced worries that decisions about protected speech were being influenced by external political pressure. She urged the administration to join other public universities in pledging to uphold free speech and academic freedom, even when it is controversial.
Plowman responded directly to the call for civil discourse. "I couldn’t agree with your last statement more," she said, "and I think there was nothing in that post that was reflective of civil discourse.”
The Post That Ignited the Firestorm
The controversy began after a social media post by Shirinian gained national attention. Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Shirinian wrote, “The world is better off without him in it.” She also used derogatory language to refer to Kirk's wife.
The comment was amplified on September 14 by conservative social media personality Robby Starbuck, who shared a screenshot of the post along with Shirinian's UT profile page to his nearly 845,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). Starbuck's post was viewed millions of times and prompted calls for the university to take action.
The post quickly caught the attention of prominent political figures, including U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, who both supported disciplinary action against Shirinian.
The university's response was swift. On September 15, UT System President Randy Boyd announced an investigation. That same day, campus leaders suspended Shirinian and stated their intent to terminate her employment.
Chancellor Plowman confirmed she made the final decision after consulting with others. "Ultimately, I’m responsible, and people can judge my actions and give me feedback on them," she told the Faculty Senate. "I do feel that free speech doesn’t mean you can just say anything in an organization.”
