Blab Politics
Florida Professor Sued After Being Fired for Assigning Controversial Short Story
Vinita Prabhakar, an English professor at South Florida State College’s Avon Park campus, filed a lawsuit on July 29, 2026 after the college dismissed her for teaching a contemporary short story. Prabhakar claims the firing violated her First Amendment rights.
For almost a decade, Prabhakar had used Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2013 narrative "Bettering myself" in her courses. The story, which contains vulgar language, references to alcohol and drug use, and mentions of sexual acts, served as a vehicle for students to dissect narrative voice, vocabulary, and perspective.
In February, college president Fred Hawkins— a former state lawmaker—publicly labeled the story "political." He told a spokesperson that he would not want his own college‑aged daughter reading it. The following day, Prabhakar was met by her department chair and the human‑relations director, who handed her a letter suspending her with pay until the end of her annual contract. The letter also declared she would no longer teach and that her contract would not be renewed.
Prabhakar’s complaint, filed in the U.S. Southern District of Florida, argues that Hawkins’ action was retaliation for protected academic speech. The filing cites the human‑relations director’s assertion that "the president has the final say," but stresses that, in a public college, the First Amendment ultimately governs when a professor is terminated for assigning a pedagogically relevant text.
The professor seeks reinstatement and back‑pay for the suspension period. Her legal team includes the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and Florida First Amendment lawyer Gary Edinger, who previously represented a former Florida wildlife employee fired over an online post.
South Florida State College, part of the Florida College System, was founded in 1965 and serves about 5,000 students across its Highlands, DeSoto, and Hardee County campuses. The college offers associate degrees, college‑credit certificates, and three bachelor’s degrees.
Hawkins was appointed president in 2023 after a search that raised questions about political influence. Critics noted his lack of prior teaching or higher‑education experience and that his selection coincided with Governor Ron DeSantis’s push to reshape Florida’s public‑college landscape.
This lawsuit joins a string of recent disputes over faculty freedom of expression in Florida. Earlier this year, a federal judge struck down the higher‑education provisions of the state’s Stop WOKE Act, ruling that the law unconstitutionally restricted speech in college classrooms. Other Florida universities have faced lawsuits alleging retaliation against faculty and students for political speech.
A spokesperson for South Florida State College has not yet responded to requests for comment. The case remains pending, and a federal judge will decide its outcome.
The lawsuit underscores the tension between college administrators’ discretion and the constitutional protections afforded to faculty at public institutions. If the court sides with Prabhakar, it could set a precedent for how state colleges handle faculty assignments that include mature or politically charged material.
At present, the lawsuit is the only publicly available legal action against the college regarding this incident. The court will weigh whether Hawkins’ characterization of the story as "political" and the subsequent termination were justified or constituted unlawful retaliation.
The broader implications touch on Florida’s reputation as a free‑speech bastion, a claim promoted by Governor DeSantis. The outcome may influence how other public colleges in the state approach faculty assignments and administrative discipline.
The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. Southern District of Florida. No further developments have been reported as of the time of writing.
For almost a decade, Prabhakar had used Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2013 narrative "Bettering myself" in her courses. The story, which contains vulgar language, references to alcohol and drug use, and mentions of sexual acts, served as a vehicle for students to dissect narrative voice, vocabulary, and perspective.
In February, college president Fred Hawkins— a former state lawmaker—publicly labeled the story "political." He told a spokesperson that he would not want his own college‑aged daughter reading it. The following day, Prabhakar was met by her department chair and the human‑relations director, who handed her a letter suspending her with pay until the end of her annual contract. The letter also declared she would no longer teach and that her contract would not be renewed.
Prabhakar’s complaint, filed in the U.S. Southern District of Florida, argues that Hawkins’ action was retaliation for protected academic speech. The filing cites the human‑relations director’s assertion that "the president has the final say," but stresses that, in a public college, the First Amendment ultimately governs when a professor is terminated for assigning a pedagogically relevant text.
The professor seeks reinstatement and back‑pay for the suspension period. Her legal team includes the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and Florida First Amendment lawyer Gary Edinger, who previously represented a former Florida wildlife employee fired over an online post.
South Florida State College, part of the Florida College System, was founded in 1965 and serves about 5,000 students across its Highlands, DeSoto, and Hardee County campuses. The college offers associate degrees, college‑credit certificates, and three bachelor’s degrees.
Hawkins was appointed president in 2023 after a search that raised questions about political influence. Critics noted his lack of prior teaching or higher‑education experience and that his selection coincided with Governor Ron DeSantis’s push to reshape Florida’s public‑college landscape.
This lawsuit joins a string of recent disputes over faculty freedom of expression in Florida. Earlier this year, a federal judge struck down the higher‑education provisions of the state’s Stop WOKE Act, ruling that the law unconstitutionally restricted speech in college classrooms. Other Florida universities have faced lawsuits alleging retaliation against faculty and students for political speech.
A spokesperson for South Florida State College has not yet responded to requests for comment. The case remains pending, and a federal judge will decide its outcome.
The lawsuit underscores the tension between college administrators’ discretion and the constitutional protections afforded to faculty at public institutions. If the court sides with Prabhakar, it could set a precedent for how state colleges handle faculty assignments that include mature or politically charged material.
At present, the lawsuit is the only publicly available legal action against the college regarding this incident. The court will weigh whether Hawkins’ characterization of the story as "political" and the subsequent termination were justified or constituted unlawful retaliation.
The broader implications touch on Florida’s reputation as a free‑speech bastion, a claim promoted by Governor DeSantis. The outcome may influence how other public colleges in the state approach faculty assignments and administrative discipline.
The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. Southern District of Florida. No further developments have been reported as of the time of writing.
