Professor Fired Over 'Political' Short Story Assignment

A Florida English professor has filed a federal lawsuit against South Florida State College and its president, Fred Hawkins, alleging unlawful termination. Vinita Prabhakar claims her dismissal occurred after President Hawkins objected to an award-winning short story she assigned in a freshman literature course.

Prabhakar assigned Ottessa Moshfegh's story, which explores themes of addiction and alienation, a text she had taught for nearly a decade without issue. The story, which won the Paris Review's 2013 Plimpton Prize, was reportedly discussed with a student who initially felt uncomfortable, but later reported feeling better about the assignment.

According to the complaint, Hawkins deemed the story 'political' and ordered Prabhakar not to teach it again. Despite support from her department, she was placed on administrative leave the following day and informed her contract would not be renewed. The lawsuit contends her First Amendment rights and academic freedom were violated, as she was allegedly given no formal explanation for the termination or which college policy was breached.