Northwestern Professor Sues University Over Tenure Denial
Steven Thrasher, a professor at Northwestern University, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the university denied him tenure due to his pro-Palestinian activism. He alleges the decision followed pressure from federal officials. Thrasher, who held the Daniel H. Renberg Chair of Social Justice, accuses the university of breaking his employment contract. He also claims violations of his academic freedom and discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, and his support for Palestinians. His tenure appeal was denied, and his chair position ended before its term concluded in August 2028.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Named in the suit are U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Thrasher asserts that he faced disciplinary investigations and suspension after protests against the Israel-Hamas War in 2024. During these protests, he participated in a campus encampment, expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
Thrasher alleges federal pressure led to his suspension and a series of disciplinary charges. Appointed to his position in 2019, Thrasher’s work focuses on LGBTQ issues and social justice. He expressed his readiness to present his case in court, asserting that the actions against him were illegal and unconstitutional. The lawsuit accuses Northwestern and federal officials of working together to silence Thrasher’s dissent, allegedly as part of a broader effort to support a Zionist agenda in Palestine.
The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with other federal departments, investigated Northwestern after the 2024 protests, scrutinizing Thrasher’s role. He was suspended in July 2024, and disciplinary cases against him continued into 2025. The initial case focused on his protest speech, citing a potential breach of the ‘Civility and Mutual Respect’ policy. However, a university committee found no grounds for action, closing the case in January 2025.
A follow-up case emerged the same month, and Thrasher’s lawsuit claims procedural violations in his suspension and denied tenure appeal. Ultimately, Thrasher learned he was denied tenure on March 12, 2025. Despite multiple appeals, he remained unsuccessful. Thrasher was set to resume teaching on April 1, 2025, but Dean Charles Whitaker informed him the day before that he would not have teaching assignments for the 2025-26 academic year due to concerns about his presence.
According to the lawsuit, pressure following the encampment protests led to Thrasher’s suspension and removal from active teaching, allegedly breaching his contract. The lawsuit also claims Thrasher has been effectively blacklisted from academic positions, suffering economic and reputational damage. Seeking compensation, reinstatement, or damages, the lawsuit requests injunctions to prevent faculty terminations and speech suppression. Thrasher hopes his case could set a precedent against discrimination and undue influence in academia.
Northwestern University has declined to comment on the pending litigation. Thrasher aims for his case to serve as a legal precedent, advocating for academic freedom free from government bias. He believes the case could prevent similar future incidents, underscoring the importance of academic independence from political influence.