Tamar Shirinian, the UT assistant professor who received notice of termination after her Sept. 14 social media comment regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, has submitted a letter of appeal to Chancellor Donde Plowman.
“Admittedly, the Facebook comment I made, privately and not in my capacity as a UT professor, was ineloquent and heartless,” Shirinian said in the letter. “It was insensitive and, I assure you, uncharacteristic of me as a person, a mother, a friend, and someone who advocates for social justice and respect for all. And, for that, I apologize.”
The former anthropology professor described writing the post out of “anger and grief,” explaining that she did not expect the comment to reach so many people.
“I have been a long-time advocate for peace, as I see peace and civility as the only means to
the making and sustaining of a world where everybody’s rights and safety will be protected,” Shirinian said.
Lucy Jewel, a UT law professor and officer at large for UT’s American Association of University Professors chapter, says the university is cracking down on uncivil comments.
“I think she was fired because there has been a shift in how the university views free speech, and there is a much bigger emphasis now on the concept of civility, and this is the new rule,” Jewel said. “If it is deemed to be uncivil, then that is the grounds for being terminated.”
Pressure from the government, Jewel said, also affects UT policy heavily as a public institution.
“I do think the political pressure is definitely the more powerful pressure point at this time,” Jewel said. “Because we are a public university, because we are connected to the Tennessee legislature, that pressure is very strong.”
Shirinian attributed her anger in the moment of writing the comment to her intense feelings on the war in Gaza, which she said she has been following for the past 23 months.
“At the time that I saw my friend’s post on Facebook, I had been scrolling through my social media and seeing a mix of posts about the genocide on the one hand and outpouring of grief for Mr. Kirk on the other,” Shirinian said.
Remembering Kirk’s position on Gaza — which clashed strongly with Shirinian’s — and seeing countless posts grieving his death “made (Shirinian) quite emotional and put (her) in a state of grief,” as did Kirk’s other “threatening” opinions.
“I understand, however, that no matter how bigoted and hateful his comments were, and how much his events targeted my colleagues’ and my livelihood, how much they incited students to take action against their professors and defund universities such as the one over which you preside as Chancellor, that Mr. Kirk had the right to free speech to express such ideas,” Shirinian said. “And that is one of the things that I value most about our country.”
Shirinian concludes the letter asking Plowman to change her mind on the termination, saying that she will bring the decision to court if necessary.
“I ask, considering the above, that you change your mind and allow me to continue to return to things that I love: scholarship and teaching students,” Shirinian said. “If not, I will appeal any and all decisions within the University and, if necessary, go to court to protect my First Amendment rights.”
The university has not responded to requests for comment.
