Federal jury says college retaliated against professor over religious beliefs

A federal jury in Greenville, N.C. found Thursday that the University of North Carolina

Professor Adams

–Wilmington retaliated against one of its professors for his religious views.

We covered this story on Tuesday’s edition of Faith on Trial.

The professor, Dr. Mike Adams, a former atheist, had frequently received accolades from his colleagues after the university hired him as an assistant professor in 1993 and promoted him to associate professor in 1998. His conversion to Christianity in 2000 impacted his views on political and social issues. Subsequently, the university subjected Adams to a campaign of academic persecution that culminated in his denial of promotion to full professor, despite an award-winning record of teaching, research, and service.

“We are grateful that the jury today reaffirmed the fundamental principle that universities are a marketplace of ideas, not a place where professors face retaliation for having a different view than university officials,” said Alliance Defending Freedom litigation staff counsel Travis Barham. “As the jury decided, disagreeing with an accomplished professor’s religious and political views is no grounds for denying him a promotion.”

“The jury saw what we have long known to be true about the wrong done to Dr. Adams,” said senior legal counsel David Hacker. “The verdict is a powerful message for academic freedom and free speech at America’s public universities.”