Purdue University Calumet: First Amendment Violations Against Professor Who Criticized Muslims

After investigating nine complaints of harassment and discrimination against Professor Maurice Eisenstein, Purdue University Calumet dismissed all of them. Among other comments on his personal Facebook page, Eisenstein had criticized "‘moderate' Muslims" who he believed had not condemned violence after an attack by "a radical Muslim group" killed Christians in Nigeria. Although Eisenstein was cleared of all of the charges after intervention from FIRE in January 2012, he was found guilty of "retaliation" due to other protected comments. He filed a lawsuit in May 2012.

Case Materials

• "Findings by Purdue University Calumet Chancellor Thomas L. Keon, June 8, 2012," June 8, 2012
• "Professor Who Criticized Muslims on Facebook Sues Purdue University Calumet," May 16, 2012: A professor has filed a free speech lawsuit against Purdue University Calumet after the university punished him in the wake of his remarks about Muslims on Facebook. The PUC Muslim Student Association and several students and faculty members had filed harassment complaints against professor Maurice Eisenstein after he criticized moderate Muslims who he believed had not condemned "radical Muslim" terrorism in Nigeria. Two faculty members had also filed retaliation complaints against Eisenstein, who came to FIRE for help.
• "Complaint filed in Lake Superior/Circuit Court, Lake County, Indiana, May 7, 2012," May 7, 2012
• "Appeal Response from Alyssa Christmas Rollock to Maurice Eisenstein, April 5, 2012," April 5, 2012
• "FIRE second letter to Purdue University Calumet, March 5, 2012," March 5, 2012
• "Letter from Chancellor Thomas L. Keon to Maurice Eisenstein, February 22, 2012," February 22, 2012
• "Response from Chancellor Thomas L. Keon to FIRE, February 14, 2012," February 14, 2012
• "Letter from FIRE to Chancellor Thomas L. Keon, January 12, 2012," January 24, 2012
• "Emails obtained in response to FOIA Request by Maurice Eisenstein, January 17, 2012," January 17, 2012
• "Maurice Eisenstein Facebook post, November 6, 2011," November 6, 2011

Blog Entries

• "Controversial Purdue Professor Wins Battle Over Publishing Public Documents," by Adam Kissel, July 6, 2012
• "Who You Gonna Call?," by Adam Kissel, May 22, 2012
• "Free Speech Lawsuit at Purdue-Calumet Hits Fox News, Associated Press," by Adam Kissel, May 18, 2012
• "Professor Who Criticized Muslims on Facebook Sues Purdue University Calumet," May 16, 2012
• "Purdue University Calumet Declares Professor Guilty of 'Retaliation'," by Peter Bonilla and William Creeley, April 13, 2012
• "Kissel on Free Speech in Purdue University Calumet Student Paper," by Lyzi Diamond, April 3, 2012
• "Victory: All Nine Complaints Dismissed for Professor Who Criticized Muslims," March 1, 2012: After investigating nine complaints of harassment and discrimination against Professor Maurice Eisenstein, Purdue University Calumet has dismissed all of them. Among other comments on his personal Facebook page, Eisenstein had criticized "‘moderate' Muslims" who he believed had not condemned violence after an attack by "a radical Muslim group" killed Christians in Nigeria. FIRE intervened in January after the university's investigation dragged on for more than two months, chilling expression on campus.
• "Purdue-Calumet Investigates Professor's Speech for Months, Chilling Expression," by Adam Kissel, February 20, 2012

Media Coverage

• "Professor Sues Purdue for Violation of his Free Speech Rights on Islam,"
  by Jamie Glazov, FrontPage Magazine, May 22, 2012
• "Professor sues Purdue after probe of his anti-Muslim Facebook comments,"
  by Mike Jaccarino, Fox News, May 18, 2012
• "Professor’s Facebook comments about Muslims brings campus outcry, lawsuit,"
  by Dennis Carter, eCampus News, May 18, 2012
• "Professor sues school after Facebook flap,"
  by John Bacon, USA Today, May 17, 2012
• "Professor claims PUC violated rights,"
  by Charles Wilson, Associated Press, May 17, 2012
• "Prof. Punished Over Anti-Muslim Facebook Posts Sues Purdue,"
  by Abigail Rubenstein, Law360, May 17, 2012
• "Holocaust speaker too controversial for Purdue Calumet?,"
  by Arnold Ahlert , The Patriot Post, April 12, 2012
• "PUC prof cleared of campus harassment charges,"
  by Carmen McCollum, NWITimes.com, February 29, 2012
• "Eisenstein says PUC clears him in free speech case,"
  by Associated Press, The Post Tribune, February 28, 2012
• "Purdue-Calumet prof's Islam comments create stir,"
  by Associated Press, The Chicago Tribune, February 15, 2012
• "Purdue professor balks at investigation following Facebook comments that led to student protests,"
  by Eric Weddle, Indianapolis Star, February 14, 2012
• "Purdue professor's comments cause flap,"
  United Press International, February 14, 2012