Opinion ID: 384563
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Removal of Johnson from Chemistry Chair

Text: 14 Plaintiff Johnson, originally appointed by Branson as Chairman of the Chemistry Department, was removed from that position by Branson in 1978, at the end of a tumultuous year in which Johnson was in the forefront of the faculty dissidents and was quite outspoken in his criticism of President Branson. His removal prompted a petition signed by 25 faculty members who termed the action by Branson a retributive action. 15 In this instance, unlike in the other two, the district court did not find a lack of connection between Johnson's criticisms and his removal as Chairman. Rather, the court held that Johnson's conduct undermined the harmony and mutual respect which should exist between the head of the University and the Chairman of one of its academic departments, adding the grossly offensive comments of W. T. Johnson cannot march under the banner of the First Amendment or of academic freedom.