© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jan. 26 Evening Newscast: Collin College, former instructor reach settlement in political speech case

wednesday evening newscast graphics

A Former Collin College history professor has accepted a $70,000 payment to end her first amendment lawsuit against the college.

  • Lora Burnett says the school effectively fired her because it didn’t like her political views, which she expressed on her own time and not while teaching. One instance occurred during the 2020 vice presidential debate between former Vice President Mike Pence and then-challenger Kamala Harris. Burnett tweeted critical comments about Pence, and the school. Collin College failed to renew her contract in the spring.
  • Burnett calls the payment a victory, saying ‘we should all be protective of the rights granted by the constitution, and stand up to defend them when they’re violated.’
  • Collin College disagrees with Burnett’s assessment. It said in a statement “the college and its leadership did not admit liability which means that Dr. Burnett unequivocally did not prevail in the litigation,