America First Legal (AFL) has filed an amended complaint in a lawsuit against Ohio Northern University on behalf of legal scholar, author, and tenured professor, Scott Gerber. The lawsuit comes after Dr. Gerber's employment was terminated by the university in 2023. The incident took a dramatic turn when, on April 14, 2023, armed police officers escorted Dr. Gerber out of his law school class and into the office of Dean Charles H. Rose III, who gave him an ultimatum to either resign or face termination proceedings.
The reason for Dr. Gerber's termination stems from his objection to Ohio Northern University's "DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) driven hiring practices. Dr. Gerber raised complaints about the university's selection of candidates based on their race and sex for new law faculty positions. Despite being a tenured faculty member with the right to be informed of the accusations against him, Dr. Gerber was never properly informed by the university.
To further complicate matters, the university ambushed Dr. Gerber during the termination hearing with new accusations, denying him his contractual right to confront the witnesses against him. The hearing was characterized as a "sham" with a predetermined outcome. Moreover, the university defamed Dr. Gerber by issuing a press release falsely labeling him as a threat to the safety of faculty, staff, and students.
According to Nicholas Barry, America First Legal Senior Counsel, the purpose of tenure is to protect academic freedom, allowing professors to teach, think, and speak in accordance with their conscience. However, with the culture war infiltrating every American institution, even right-leaning tenured professors like Dr. Gerber are facing termination for standing up against the prevailing ideology.
Barry argues that Ohio Northern University failed to give Dr. Gerber a fair hearing and violated the terms of his tenure contract simply because he expressed his objection to the university's practices. America First Legal is committed to fighting this unlawful termination and upholding the rule of law.
The lawsuit filed by America First Legal seeks justice for Dr. Gerber and highlights the importance of protecting academic freedom and the rights of tenured professors. It also brings attention to the escalating culture war and the potential consequences for those who refuse to conform to the prevailing woke ideology.
In a statement, Nicholas Barry emphasizes the need to insist on the rule of law and ensure that it applies to everyone equally. He states, "It cannot continue to be rules for thee but not for me."
As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how Ohio Northern University will respond to the allegations made by America First Legal on behalf of Dr. Gerber.