Oklahoma Christian University: Faculty Librarian Rebuked for Inaction Following Guest Speaker’s Presentation

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Oklahoma Christian University

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Case Overview

In March 2022, Oklahoma Christian University fired Professor Michael O’Keefe based on a guest speaker’s presentation to O’Keefe’s class, which included the speaker telling a story about peer pressure involving the phrase “truth or dick.” Shortly thereafter, OC administrators called faculty librarian Chris Rosser into a meeting and rebuked him for attending the talk but failing to report the “nature of the presentation” to administrators or to otherwise intervene. On May 19, FIRE wrote OC explaining that its apparent demand that Rosser report colleagues for exercising their academic freedom to host controversial speakers contravenes the university’s promises of free speech and academic freedom.

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