- What We Do
- What we defend
- Have your rights been violated?
  If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIRE to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
  Submit a Case
- Make a difference
- FIRE Student Network
  FIRE’s 2022 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of more than 44,000 currently enrolled students at 208 colleges and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.
  Build Your Network
- FIRE Legal Network
  The FIRE Legal Network is a nationwide group of attorneys to whom we refer cases when counsel is necessary and the matter at issue falls outside the scope of FIRE’s mission or ability to assist.
  Join the Network
- Resources
- College Free Speech Rankings
  Presented by FIRE and College Pulse, the 2024 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.
  Explore Rankings
- Learn with FIRE
  Learn with FIRE provides learners with the opportunity to take courses on a wide range of topics, including free speech and due process, designed by our expert staff. Check out our library of resources to get started on your First Amendment journey!
  Get Started
Colleges
News
Cases
About Us
Submit a Case

University of Tennessee: University Publicly Reprimands Professor for Classroom Comments Deemed Anti-Semitic

Cases

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Case Overview

On November 1, 2023, the University of Tennessee publicly announced it had reprimanded an unnamed professor for in-class comments UT characterized as anti-Semitic based on the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism. On December 8, FIRE wrote UT urging it not to use the IHRA definition for assessing what speech is punishable as it risks unconstitutionally sweeping in a substantial amount of protected expression, chilling faculty speech.

Share this selection via email