Professor’s Tweets Were ‘Insensitive’ and Embarrassed Fresno State, but She Won’t Be Punished

An English professor’s online conduct in the aftermath of Barbara Bush’s death was “insensitive, inappropriate and an embarrassment to the university,” but she won’t be disciplined for it, the president of California State University at Fresno announced late Tuesday.

The tweets by Randa Jarrar calling the former first lady an “amazing racist” who helped raise a “war criminal” were protected by the First Amendment, the president, Joseph I. Castro, wrote.

Jarrar also wrote that she was glad “the witch is dead” and that she looked forward to the demise of the rest of the Bush family. People who were unhappy with her tweets were urged to call a number she presented as her own, but actually linked to a mental-health hotline at Arizona State University.

Her hours-long Twitter rant, during which she told readers she was a tenured professor who wouldn’t be fired, prompted many to demand that the university take disciplinary action against her. A petition calling on Castro to fire her attracted more than 60,000 signatures. Others, including civil-liberties organizations, were equally adamant that her statements were protected speech.

After consulting with its lawyers, the university concluded that Jarrar had not violated Fresno State’s policies and that she had acted in a private capacity speaking about a public matter on her personal Twitter account.

“Her comments, although disgraceful, are protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” Castro wrote. “Additionally, although Professor Jarrar used tenure to defend her behavior, this private action is an issue of free speech and not related to her job or tenure.”

Jarrar will remain on her pre-approved leave through the spring semester, Castro said. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though she defended her conduct this week in an email to New York magazine. “I felt compelled to speak up because I want people to remember history,” she wrote. “I want people to know that our country’s actions don’t just disappear; they have real, negative consequences. If we want a better future, we have to confront our past.”

Even though Jarrar’s actions were protected speech, the president called on educators and students to adopt a less incendiary tone on social media.

“Our duty as Americans and as educators is to promote a free exchange of diverse views, even if we disagree with them,” Castro wrote. “At Fresno State, we encourage opinions and ideas to be expressed in a manner that informs, enlightens and educates without being disparaging of others.”

Some of Jarrar’s critics reacted angrily to the president’s decision, while her supporters continued to defend her.

Katherine Mangan writes about community colleges, completion efforts, and job training, as well as other topics in daily news. Follow her on Twitter @KatherineMangan, or email her at katherine.mangan@chronicle.com.