BUZZ
Professor argued cuts to diversity committees and events violated his rights
Miami University did not violate the law when it closed various diversity committees, events, and programming, a federal court ruled recently.
Southern District of Ohio Judge Matthew McFarland squashed a lawsuit from Professor Darryl Rice, who argued that his First Amendment rights were violated by the school’s implementation of state law. This ruling rejected Rice’s request for a temporary restraining order.
Senate Bill 1 generally required public universities to eliminate “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programming. Rice, a business professor, objected to these cuts. He also said the cuts interfered with the “service” requirements of his job.
Almost all his non-teaching experience is diversity related, according to a College Fix review of his curriculum vitae. He is a committee member on one DEI committee and also the vice president of the Miami University Association of Black Faculty and Staff.
The business professor cited a 2021 court case where a Shawnee State professor successfully challenged a requirement that he use transgender pronouns to refer to a gender-confused students.
However, this case does not apply to Rice’s situation, McFarland ruled. This is because Rice “does not contend that his in-class speech has been restricted in any way.”
“And, even beyond the classroom, Plaintiff does not allege that he has been compelled or barred from speaking,” the ruling stated.
“Since Plaintiff has not provided sufficient allegations and legal reasoning to demonstrate how discontinuation of his preferred university programs and entities amounts to a violation of his First Amendment rights, he has not shown a strong likelihood of success,” the judge concluded.
The case is not completely over, as the court will consider at a later date Rice’s request for a preliminary injunction against the law.
He filed the lawsuit on his own.
