Florida English Professor Files Federal Lawsuit After Being Fired Over Assigned Story
An English professor filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the president of a Florida college, alleging she was wrongfully fired for assigning a story that administrators labeled “political.” Vinita Prabhakar, 51, who has worked full time at South Florida State College since 2023, is being represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The lawsuit asks that she be restored to her teaching position and names both College President Fred Hawkins and the board of trustees as defendants.
Controversial Assignment Sparks Immediate Presidential Action
The assignment in question was Ottessa Moshfegh’s award-winning story “Bettering Myself,” which is narrated by a fictional teacher dealing with substance use and student interactions. Prabhakar stated she had taught the material for nearly a decade without incident, using it in her introductory reading and writing course alongside works like Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” to help students analyze narrative voice and style. However, in February, President Hawkins objected to the text after a student expressed mild discomfort, telling the instructor he would not want his college-age daughter to read the story. Hawkins subsequently ordered Prabhakar suspended and her contract non-renewed without a formal complaint or lesser discipline.
Broader Legal Battles Over Free Speech and Higher Education in Florida
The case represents the latest legal skirmish regarding speech boundaries in Florida schools, where state leadership has heavily pursued restrictions on educational content. Prabhakar’s legal team argues that the First Amendment and Florida campus free speech laws protect her official instructional duties, noting that public officials cannot suppress speech merely due to ideological disagreement or anticipated reactions. Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis has advanced measures such as the parental freedom law and the Stop WOKE Act to curb progressive teachings, though a federal appeals court recently struck down portions of the higher education restrictions governing race, sexism, and unconscious bias.
Presidential Background and Fallout for Students
South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins, a former state representative and ally of Governor DeSantis, assumed his role in 2023 at the main campus in Avon Park, Florida. His hiring previously drew scrutiny when trustees lowered the position’s educational requirements for a candidate holding no advanced college degrees. Although the student who emailed about feeling uncomfortable ultimately completed the assignment and participated without incident, Prabhakar expressed deep regret for the outcome. Noting that she had offered an apology and agreed to use strictly textbook material before her termination, she emphasized the broader impact of the firing, stating that her students were robbed of an engaging classroom experience.
