A professor at the University of Texas at Austin was arrested and fired this week in connection with his participation in a pro-Palestinian rally on campus, raising new concerns among faculty members and free speech advocates about academic protections in the state.
Richard Heyman, who taught at UT for 18 years in the College of Liberal Arts, was arrested Wednesday by the Texas Department of Public Safety and charged with interfering with public functions, a Class B misdemeanor. at a pro-Palestinian demonstration on April 29, in which authorities arrested about 80 protesters who had set up a camp on campus.
The university fired Heyman on Thursday via email, according to his lawyer, Gerry Morris. Heyman was scheduled to teach three classes during the upcoming fall semester.
According to Heyman’s arrest affidavit, DPS officers accused him of yelling profanities at officers during the protest, snatching an officer’s bicycle and making a motion with a water bottle “as if he was going to swing it and hit it.” ” at a police officer.
Citing three video recordings of Heyman’s actions, Morris disagreed with his client’s sworn characterization as physically disruptive.
Morris said the officer initiated physical contact and pushed Heyman, which caused Heyman to grab the bike’s handlebars for balance. Morris said he plans to ask the Travis County District Attorney’s office to dismiss the case.
“This is a politically charged atmosphere in which this occurred,” Morris said. “I think in a normal atmosphere, the prosecutor would look at this and give up quickly. But I’m not sure that will happen very quickly given what we’re facing.”
Heyman’s firing comes amid growing concern among Texas teacher groups that state lawmakers have passed laws that have led to greater scrutiny and insecurity regarding their jobs. Anne Lewis, a member of the executive board of the Texas State Employees Union, linked Heyman’s firing to what she said were broader measures by the state to restrict academic freedom and First Amendment rights.
“I think it’s an attack on higher education and its core values, and Richard is just one of many who are being caught up in this attack,” Lewis said. “He’s the worst yet.”
Last year, Texas lawmakers approved Senate Bill 17that banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at Texas universities, and Senate Bill 18, which aimed to end tenure at state universities but ended up just requiring schools to provide clear guidelines on how to obtain and maintain tenure. Enforcement of SB 17 has resulted in layoffs at universities across the state, with UT-Austin laying off dozens of employees earlier this year.
The state Legislature’s Higher Education Committee will likely monitor implementation of both laws and consider regulating faculty senates in the next legislative session, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s agenda for lawmakers during the interim period before the next legislative session . Faculty senates represent faculty members in open meetings to make recommendations on a wide range of topics, such as degree programs and student services.
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