Cypress College: Professor Placed On Leave Following Viral Video of Classroom Exchange With Student About Police
Cases
Cypress College
Case Overview
On April 30, 2021, Cypress College placed adjunct professor Faryha Salim on administrative leave after a video of the professor鈥檚 exchange with a student during a Human Communication class was widely criticized online. The college said Salim was not being punished and that the leave was for safety reasons, even though Salim鈥檚 classes were taught online. On May 13, FIREwrote to Cypress College to explain that the exchange falls squarely within the First Amendment鈥檚 protections of free expression and academic freedom, and that the college鈥檚 actions unconstitutionally effectuated a 鈥渉eckler鈥檚 veto.鈥 On June 2, counsel for the North Orange County Community College District, of which Cypress College is a part, responded that it is still reviewing the situation.