Shawnee State Univerisity officials are asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit by a professor who was reprimanded for not addressing a transgender student with the student's preferred gender term.
The school says the language in question is part of Nicholas Meriwether's job responsibilities and isn't protected by the First Amendment. Meriwether's lawsuit alleges officials violated his rights by compelling him to speak in a way that contradicts his religious beliefs. Meriwether unsuccessfully challenged his reprimand in a grievance process.
