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A professor at the University of Arizona has initiated legal proceedings against the institution, alleging wrongful termination tied to his outspoken views on gender policies.
Daniel Grossenbach, who served as an adjunct ethics instructor from 2020 to 2023, claims his dismissal was influenced by anonymous complaints regarding his advocacy for parental rights within his local school district. In November 2023, following these complaints, the university reportedly decided to terminate his contract.
According to court documents, Grossenbach, a parent of two students in the Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD), established the parental rights organization SaveCFSD in 2023. The group aims to address concerns over the district’s practices, which Grossenbach argues violate essential parental rights by obscuring students’ mental health information.
The advocacy group asserts that CFSD distributed gender identity surveys to students while maintaining records of those requesting preferred names and pronouns without parental awareness.
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The lawsuit further claims that the University of Arizona acted upon anonymous reports that accused Grossenbach of leading an “anti-gay hate group.” Allegations included claims he posted anti-LGBTQ content on social media and spread misinformation regarding CFSD’s gender-related policies. The complaints suggested that his actions breached the university’s nondiscrimination and professional conduct standards.
University officials informed Grossenbach that budget constraints led to the elimination of his position. However, shortly after his termination, the university advertised new adjunct teaching openings in the ethics department, raising questions about the legitimacy of their stated reasons.
Following his dismissal, Grossenbach sought transparency from the university through a public records request. The response was delayed significantly, with the university withholding documents for 239 days. When finally released, these records were extensively redacted, leading Grossenbach to believe they concealed critical information about the decision-making process prior to his termination.
“It was disheartening to learn my public discussions on important issues might have influenced the department’s decision-making process,” Grossenbach remarked. “Nobody informed me about the complaints that led to this outcome, which feels deeply unjust.”
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The legal action contends violations of several rights, including those protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and applicable Arizona public records laws. Grossenbach is seeking not only reinstatement and back pay but also damages for reputational harm and an injunction against university policies he deems infringe upon free speech rights.
The document states, “The actions by the University of Arizona have caused irreparable harm to Professor Grossenbach’s professional trajectory and reputation, halted his pursuit of a doctorate, and diminished his earning capabilities.” It continues, “Additionally, his termination jeopardized a prospective textbook publishing deal, further compounding his financial and reputational losses.”
Liberty Counsel attorney Daniel Schmid, representing Grossenbach, emphasized the central issue of safeguarding constitutional rights in this case.
“No professor should be dismissed for expressing religious or personal views outside the classroom simply because they provoke offense or disagreement,” Schmid stated. “Such actions are fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment.”
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In response to the legal grievance, a spokesperson for the University of Arizona declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal process.
This lawsuit unfolds against a broader national backdrop of tension between educational institutions and the government concerning transgender policies. The U.S. Department of Education has recently launched various investigations into school districts, threatening funding cuts for those deemed to be in violation of Title IX. This includes districts that enforce policies allowing students to use facilities corresponding with their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
As discussions around gender identity and parental rights continue to escalate, the outcome of this lawsuit may have significant implications for academic freedom and rights in educational settings.
