University of Washington Settles Professor's Free Speech

The University of Washington has agreed to pay computer science teaching professor Stuart Reges $600,000. The settlement resolves his lawsuit alleging the university violated his First Amendment rights.

UW also pledged not to force Reges to remove a "parody land acknowledgment statement" from his course syllabi. The settlement ends litigation that began over four years ago.

Court Rulings Favored Professor

A panel of judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Reges's favor in December and May. The majority found Reges "experienced adverse employment actions, including a lengthy disciplinary investigation and reprimand, because of his protected speech."

The court stated his speech was protected because he spoke as a professor on a matter of public concern, not on behalf of the university. UW spokesperson Victor Balta said the university settled after the court loss to avoid further legal costs.

Terms of the Settlement Agreement

The settlement contains specific protections for Professor Reges. According to the agreement, UW will not remove his parody statement from current or future syllabi "in perpetuity."

The university also agreed not to investigate him, create competing sections of his courses, or withhold salary increases because of the statement or related complaints. The parody acknowledges that "by the labor theory of property the Coast Salish people can claim historical ownership of almost none of the land currently occupied by the University of Washington."

Background of the Dispute

Reges used the parody to protest a boilerplate land acknowledgment that UW encouraged professors to use. The university did not require its use. In response to his parody, UW amended his online syllabus to remove the statement.

The university also offered an alternative section of the class he was teaching. Reges said approximately 30 percent of his students transferred to that section.

Reactions to the Resolution

Gabe Walters, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression who represented Reges, commented on the case. "Reasonable people can disagree about the value of land acknowledgments," Walters said in a news release. "What’s not up for debate is academic freedom."

In an email, UW spokesperson Victor Balta defended the university's actions. "The university maintains that we acted appropriately, and this settlement is in no way an admission of any wrongdoing," Balta stated. He also noted that Reges kept his faculty position and continued teaching throughout the legal process.