Professor Sues Over University's Reaction To His Criticism of Muslims

AP reported yesterday on a lawsuit filed on May 10 in an Indiana state court by an Orthodox Jewish professor, Maurice Eisenstein, who claims that other faculty and administrators at Purdue University Calumet conspired to ruin his reputation over comments he made in the classroom and on Facebook.  The comments were critical of Muslim reactions to killing of Christians in Nigeria and to insulting the prophet Muhammad.  Two other faculty filed complaints against Eisenstein. A university investigation cleared Eisenstein of charges that he had violated the school's policy against discrimination and harassment. But he was reprimanded for action considered retaliation against the two faculty members who had filed complaints against him.  In last week's lawsuit, Eisenstein claims that the university violated his free speech and free exercise of religion protected by the Indiana constitution, and his right of privacy by making the disciplinary action against him public. He also claims the university's procedures for handling harassment complaints are arbitrary.