University of Oklahoma: Use of Sexual Harassment Allegations to Suppress Protected Speech

Case Materials

• "Letter from the Foundation for the Advancement of Sexual Equity to University of Oklahoma President David Boren, April 23, 2000," April 23, 2000
• "Oklahoma Professor's First Amendment Rights Still Under Threat," FIRE Press Release, March 23, 2000: FIRE seeks an explanation from OU.

Media Coverage

• "Professor's case exposes bias," Robert Shibley, The Oklahoman, February 23, 2005: Tenure hasn't been all it's cracked up to be for University of Oklahoma professor David Deming. Sure, he still has a job, but it wasn't enough to keep him out of the basement.
• "UI free speech policy disappoints," Chad Kent, Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 12, 2005: Certainly our freedom of speech is one of the most cherished and fundamental rights in this country. Unfortunately, the United States falls far short of the ideal put forth in the old saying, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Far too many people are now more than willing to suppress the speech of others simply because they find it offensive.
• "Pro-Gun Professor Claims University Denied Him Free Speech," Kathleen Rhodes, Cybercast News Service, December 13, 2004: (CNSNews.com) - The issues of gun control and free speech dominate a lawsuit filed by an Oklahoma University geology professor who used a blunt sexual comparison to criticize a pro-gun control newspaper column and later was demoted for that and other perceived transgressions.
• "The Man Without a Department," Scott Smallwood, The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 27, 2004
• "Oklahoma U Crushes A Prof's Free Speech," David Deming, FrontPage Magazine, February 2, 2004
• "U. of Oklahoma Won't Pursue Complaints Against Professor Who Compared Gun to Vagina," The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 8, 2000
• "The Orwellian Memory Hole: Vanishing Archives," Wendy McElroy, LewRockwell.com, April 20, 2000