TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 9, 2026

Austin Peay State University (ASPU) will pay $500,000 in addition to reinstating a professor who was fired over a social media post following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Citizen Tribune reports. A copy of the settlement agreement obtained through a public records request shows the payment also includes reimbursement for counseling expenses. Documents authorizing the settlement were signed by Tennessee’s governor, attorney general and comptroller. A university spokesperson confirmed Dec. 31, 2025, that Darren Michael has been fully reinstated as a tenured professor as APSU President Mike Licari said the university failed to follow proper policy when it terminated Michael in September 2025.