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Vinita Prabhakar sues Florida State College over firing for short story
English professor Vinita Prabhakar was dismissed from South Florida State College after assigning the award‑winning short story “Bettering Myself” by Ottessa Moshfegh to her freshman English II class. College president Fred Hawkins, a former Republican state legislator and ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, called the story “political,” met with Prabhakar, and ordered that it not be taught again. The following day Prabhakar’s contract was not renewed and she was removed from the classroom.
Prabhakar, who has taught for about two decades at various colleges, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the termination violates her First Amendment rights. She is represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and seeks reinstatement and damages. The case arrives shortly after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down key provisions of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act,” ruling that the state cannot treat higher‑education instruction as government speech.
The lawsuit highlights a broader debate over academic freedom and the politicization of curriculum in public colleges.
Entities
Bettering Myself · Fred Hawkins · Ottessa Moshfegh · South Florida State College · Vinita Prabhakar
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the higher‑education provisions of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act”. boingboing.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Prabhakar filed a federal lawsuit claiming her First Amendment rights were violated. www.fire.org · boingboing.net · www.insidehighered.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Fred Hawkins is a former Republican state legislator and ally of Governor Ron DeSantis. boingboing.net · www.insidehighered.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The college told Prabhakar her contract would not be renewed because she taught a story not in the textbook and the president has the final say. www.insidehighered.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] College president Fred Hawkins ordered the termination, labeling the story “political”. www.fire.org · boingboing.net · www.insidehighered.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prabhakar has taught for about 20 years, previously at upstate New York colleges, and moved to Florida in 2023. www.insidehighered.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] “Bettering Myself” is an award‑winning short story by Ottessa Moshfegh that won the 2013 Plimpton Prize. www.fire.org · boingboing.net · www.insidehighered.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vinita Prabhakar, an English professor at South Florida State College, was fired after assigning the short story “Bettering Myself”. www.fire.org · boingboing.net · www.insidehighered.com