JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — East Tennessee State University (ETSU) students gathered in protest on Friday, opposing what they claim is the compelled retirement of two tenured professors following remarks on the late conservative political activist, Charlie Kirk.
Recently, professors Andrew Hermann and Russell Brown from ETSU were suspended after posting on social media, which, according to the university, breached its anti-violence policy. Soon after the university’s decision was made public, both professors, with tenure, decided to retire, starting with Hermann.
Students voiced their discontent on Friday, asserting that the professors’ retirements were enforced. ETSU junior Kaine Smith remarked that there is widespread disillusionment with the university alongside its president, Brian Noland, due to a perceived “lack of transparency.”
“We’re frustrated with how unclear this whole situation is,” Smith said. “We constantly encounter people who haven’t even seen the remarks. They only hear that these comments incited violence because Dr. Noland’s memos mentioned it, yet the actual quotes weren’t shared with us.”
During the protest, participants showcased signs with images of Noland and Brown, while students noted that many of their peers stopped by to discuss the demonstration.
The signs featured excerpts from ETSU’s Tenured ETSU Faculty Handbook, which can be read here.
