Ashland University: Professor Denied Tenure Because of Objectivist Scholarship

After denying tenure to a history professor because he engaged in Objectivist scholarship, in 2007 Ohio's Ashland University struck a deal with John Lewis, granting him tenure but only if he resigns from the university. FIRE wrote to Ashland in March advocating for Lewis' tenure bid, citing the fact that the university had accepted $100,000 from a private foundation to fund Lewis' Objectivist research. FIRE also argued that Ashland was contractually obligated to uphold professors' full academic freedom and free speech rights. Lewis was on leave until May 2008, when he resigned from Ashland.