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Texas A&M University: Professor Investigated, Put on Leave After Criticizing Lieutenant Governor

Cases

Texas A&M University - College Station

Case Overview

Texas A&M University placed Professor Joy Alonzo on leave pending an investigation in March 2023, after Alonzo reportedly criticized Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a lecture on the opioid crisis at the University of Texas Medical Branch. After a two-week investigation, Alonzo returned to her faculty position in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. After the Texas Tribune publicized the university’s actions on July 25, FIRE urged the university to abide by its legal obligations to respect faculty’s core expressive and academic freedom rights to criticize public officials.

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