UT-Austin lecturer arrested during protest, then fired

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A University of Texas at Austin lecturer was arrested and fired this week in connection with his participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus, raising new concerns among faculty members and free speech advocates about academic protections in the state.

Richard Heyman, who has taught at UT's College of Liberal Arts for 18 years, was arrested Wednesday by the Texas Department of Public Safety and charged with interfering with public duties, a Class B misdemeanor. The charge stems from Heyman's participation in a pro- Palestinian demonstration on April 29, in which authorities arrested around 80 protesters who had set up camp on campus.

According to his attorney, Gerry Morris, the university fired Heyman via email on Thursday. Heyman was scheduled to teach three courses in the upcoming fall semester.

According to Heyman's affidavit, DPS troopers accused him of shouting anti-police profanities during the protest, taking a police officer's bicycle and making a motion with a water bottle “as if he was swinging it and hitting a police officer.”

Citing three video recordings of Heyman's actions, Morris contradicted the affidavit's description of his client as physically disruptive.

Morris said the officer made physical contact and pushed Heyman, causing Heyman to hold onto the bike's handlebars for balance. Morris said he plans to ask the Travis County District Attorney's Office to dismiss the case.

“This occurred in a politically charged atmosphere,” Morris said. “I think in a normal atmosphere the prosecutor would look at this and drop it pretty quickly. But I’m not sure it will happen very quickly given the situation we are in.”

Heyman's firing comes amid growing concern among Texas teachers that state lawmakers have passed laws that have increased scrutiny and uncertainty over their jobs. Anne Lewis, a board member of the Texas State Employees Union, linked Heyman's firing to broader actions by the state to restrict academic freedom and First Amendment rights.

“I think it's an attack on higher education and its core values, and Richard is just one of many caught up in that attack,” Lewis said. “He’s the worst so far.”

Last year, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at Texas universities, and Senate Bill 18, which sought to end tenure at state universities, but ultimately only from schools required to provide clear guidelines for obtaining and obtaining job offers and retaining tenure. Compliance with SB 17 led to layoffs at universities across the state, with UT-Austin laying off dozens of employees earlier this year.

The state legislature's Higher Education Committee is expected to oversee implementation of both laws and consider regulating faculty senates in the next legislative session, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for lawmakers in the transition period before the next legislative session. Faculty Senates represent faculty members in open meetings to make recommendations on a variety of topics such as undergraduate programs and student services.

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