Indian-origin professor fired over short story assignment, sues US college over academic freedom

Veteran Indian-origin academic Vinita Prabhakar has filed a federal lawsuit against South Florida State College after she was abruptly dismissed following a dispute over a short story she assigned to first-year English students.

The case centres on her decision to teach “Bettering Myself” by Ottessa Moshfegh, an award-winning work of fiction that examines addiction and the moral decline of a teacher.

Prabhakar’s legal team alleges that college president Fred Hawkins objected to the story because he considered it political and ordered her to stop teaching it.

Dispute over award-winning short story

Prabhakar assigned the story to her first-year English students as part of her course. The work had previously won a prestigious prize from The Paris Review.

The story follows a teacher struggling with addiction and moral decline. One student initially expressed discomfort with the material, according to Prabhakar’s legal team.

However, the student took part fully in the subsequent classroom discussion and later felt better about the assignment, the legal team said.

The dispute nevertheless escalated after Hawkins summoned Prabhakar to a meeting.

Professor placed on leave

Hawkins, a former Republican legislator and ally of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, allegedly told Prabhakar that she could no longer teach the story because he found it objectionable.

Prabhakar had reportedly received support from her department chair and dean. Despite that support, she was placed on administrative leave the following day.

She was subsequently told that her contract would not be renewed.

Prabhakar argues that the college did not provide her with a formal hearing or explain which policy she had violated.

Wider Florida education debate

The dispute comes amid continuing political battles in Florida over what can be taught and discussed in classrooms.

DeSantis has repeatedly campaigned against what he describes as liberal indoctrination in education. His administration has backed measures including the Stop WOKE Act, which places restrictions on discussions of certain sensitive social and political issues in educational settings.

Hawkins was appointed as president of South Florida State College after the institution's board lowered the educational requirements for the position. The decision attracted public scrutiny because of his political background.

FIRE represents professor

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is representing Prabhakar in the lawsuit.

The organisation argues that although public colleges can establish broad curriculum requirements, administrators cannot dismiss faculty members merely because they object to ideas contained in teaching material used as part of a course.

The legal challenge raises questions about the First Amendment and the extent to which professors at public colleges are protected when carrying out their teaching responsibilities.

Prabhakar seeks reinstatement

Prabhakar moved to Florida in 2023 to be closer to her elderly parents. She has around two decades of classroom experience.

Through the lawsuit, she is seeking reinstatement.

Her case challenges the circumstances surrounding her dismissal and argues that she was punished without being given a formal hearing or a clear explanation of the policy she had allegedly breached.

The lawsuit now places her dispute with South Florida State College within Florida’s broader debate over academic freedom, classroom content and free expression.