Fresno State University attempted to manage the situation and the university’s president stated that he did not condone the comments made. The university’s flag was also flown at half-mast. An investigation was launched into the conduct of Dr. Rhonda Jarrar and it appeared that she would be fired as a result of her tweets.
However, it’s important to note that the Iraq war led by Bush resulted in the death of over 1.1 million civilians and there was much debate over the legitimacy of the war. Some argued that Dr. Jarrar’s comments were made during her private time and not in the classroom.
Therefore, she was not fired as she had the right to freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment. Although this decision remains a topic of controversy, in my opinion, it was a wise decision. One should not be prevented from speaking out against someone simply because they have passed away.
