Northwestern Professor Files Lawsuit Alleging Tenure Denial Due to Activism

A Northwestern University professor has initiated a federal lawsuit, claiming the university denied him tenure in response to his activism for Palestinian causes and his speeches on campus. Steven Thrasher, the assistant professor and current holder of the Daniel H. Renberg Chair in social justice in reporting, alleges breaches of his employment contract, including violations of academic freedom. He reports his tenure appeal was denied, and his chair position was terminated before the end of its term in August 2028.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, highlights discrimination claims linked to Thrasher’s sexual orientation, race, and Palestinian affiliations. It also alleges retaliation for speech protected by the First Amendment. Additional defendants include U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Court documents indicate Thrasher was subject to internal disciplinary investigations and suspension following on-campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2024.

Thrasher’s participation in a student-led encampment in 2024, where he expressed solidarity with Palestinians, is cited in the filings. The suit contends federal pressure led to his suspension, internal charges, tenure denial, and impending termination. He was appointed to the chair in 2019, with efforts focused on LGBTQ issues and social justice.

Thrasher expressed mixed feelings about the lawsuit, recognizing the challenge but also anticipating his chance to present his case. He asserts that both the federal government and Northwestern have attempted to undermine him, prompting him to fight back as the actions are neither legal nor constitutional. The lawsuit argues Thrasher’s career and financial stability were destroyed by a collaboration between Northwestern and federal officials, aimed at supporting Zionist policies in Palestine.

Investigations by the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services into universities following 2024’s political protests questioned Thrasher’s role. The lawsuit states he faced temporary suspension in July 2024, with protracted disciplinary cases in 2025. His encampment speech allegedly breached university policies, yet no disciplinary basis was found.

Claims of due process violations link to his temporary suspension, and the lawsuit states that on March 12, 2025, he was denied promotion and tenure, with appeals rejected. Thrasher alleges procedural violations in handling the appeal. He was set to resume teaching on April 1, 2025, but learned of his removal from teaching duties by Dean Charles Whitaker on March 31, 2025, citing concerns over his presence with students.

The lawsuit accuses Northwestern of breaching Thrasher’s contract and preventing him from teaching in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years despite no misconduct findings. His termination aligns with university policies after tenure denial, effective August 31. Thrasher claims he’s been ‘blacklisted’ from academia, facing economic and reputational damage.

The lawsuit seeks reinstatement in a tenured role or equivalent financial recompense. It also requests prevention of future faculty terminations and limits on campus speech suppression. Thrasher seeks to invalidate a 2025 agreement between Northwestern and the federal government addressing antisemitism allegations and restoring federal funding. Northwestern has not commented on ongoing litigation. Thrasher hopes the case sets a precedent for addressing discrimination in contentious speech issues and ensures fairness irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality.

He believes his case could prevent similar incidents, emphasizing that personal politics should not influence teaching eligibility. Thrasher concludes that governmental influence should not dictate university teaching assignments based on political alignment.