{"id":2323870,"date":"2024-08-13T14:31:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T18:31:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/conservative-professor-scores-multimillion-dollar-win-after-yearslong-battle-with-california-college\/"},"modified":"2024-08-13T14:36:30","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T18:36:30","slug":"conservative-professor-scores-multimillion-dollar-win-after-yearslong-battle-with-california-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/conservative-professor-scores-multimillion-dollar-win-after-yearslong-battle-with-california-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservative Professor Scores Multimillion-Dollar Win After Yearslong Battle with California College"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fconservative-professor-scores-multimillion-dollar-win-after-yearslong-battle-with-california-college%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2323870&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In 2021, Matthew Garrett, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/most-popular-item-prof-under-fire-for-sharing-jeremys-chocolate-bars-says-students-loved-them\/\" title=\"Prof in trouble for sharing Jeremy&#039;s chocolate bars, but students loved them.\">tenured history professor<\/a> at Bakersfield College in\u200b California, sued the Kern Community College District after he was fired \u200bfor opposing campus racial diversity \u200bpolicies, claiming his First Amendment \u2064rights were violated.\u2062 The legal dispute arose after Garrett delivered a speech defending free speech and criticized district spending on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-cnn-the-super-bowl-does-not-need-more-politics-it-needs-none\/\" title=\"No, CNN, The Super Bowl Does Not Need MORE Politics; It Needs None\">social justice programs<\/a>. In July 2024, \u2063the college district settled the lawsuit for $2.4 million, with Garrett receiving an upfront payment and the remainder in installments over \u200c20 years.\u2064 While Garrett saw this as a victory for free speech, the district maintained that the settlement was in its best\u200d interest \u2063and denied \u200dany wrongdoing, framing the issue as a disciplinary matter unrelated to free speech. The case has sparked discussions about the treatment of conservative \u200dvoices in academia and the ongoing struggle for free speech rights in higher education. Garrett \u200cemphasized the importance of \u200dcontinuing the fight for free \u2063speech across colleges nationwide.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>An outspoken conservative professor is getting the last word against the community college that fired him &mdash; and it&rsquo;s worth millions.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, Matthew Garrette, then a tenured history professor at Bakersfield College in California&rsquo;s Kern Community College District, sued the district claiming in federal court that it had violated his First Amendment rights for retaliating against him for his opposition to campus racial diversity policies, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/conservative-california-professor-reaches-multi-million-dollar-settlement-after-free-speech-lawsuit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In an agreement announced in July, the district agreed to pay Garrett $2.4 million to settle the case.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute flared up in 2019, when Garrett delivered a speech on campus defending free speech, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/conservative-professor-disciplined-for-criticizing-dei-gets-2-4-million-to-settle-lawsuit-against-college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">College Fix<\/a> report in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett also questioned the use of district money for social justice programs, the College Fix reported.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The district reacted by launching an investigation into Garrett. In 2023, Fox reported, the district&rsquo;s board of trustees voted to fire him on grounds of &ldquo;immoral and unprofessional conduct,&rdquo; Fox reported.<\/p>\n<p>The settlement includes an agreement for the district to pay Garrett $2.4 million &mdash; in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-accidentally-buys-pair-of-identical-lottery-tickets-wins-two-jackpots-i-couldnt-believe-it\/\" title=\"Man Accidentally Buys Pair of Identical Lottery Tickets, Wins Two Jackpots: &#039;I Couldn&#039;t Believe It&#039;\">lump sum payment<\/a> of $154,520 with the remainder paid in monthly installments over the next 20 years, according to the College Fix.<\/p>\n<p>The district also agreed to pay Garrett&rsquo;s attorneys fees.<\/p>\n<p>In return, Garrett dropped his complaint and agreed to resign from the school.<\/p>\n<p>In short, it&rsquo;s a complete win for the professor. But the district admits no wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;KCCD believes the settlement is in the best interest of the District and allows us to focus on the future and continue to deliver quality higher education for students of Kern County without any further legal distractions,&rdquo; the district said in a statement, according to Fox.<\/p>\n<p>The statement further explained: &ldquo;To be clear, the dispute with Matthew Garrett was a disciplinary matter due to his disruptive actions on campus, none of which concerned freedom of speech. Kern Community College District unequivocally supports the right for our students and faculty to  their views and opinions on campus and elsewhere. As a District, we create an environment that provides our diverse students and communities with the opportunity to professionally engage with new ideas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Anyone who&rsquo;s followed the news lately about how higher education<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-invites-onstage-activist-reveals-truth-behind-happening-conservatives-college-campuses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> treats voices that dissent<\/a> from the leftist viewpoint will have trouble believing just about any campus that claims to value true freedom of speech.<\/p>\n<p>And Garrett&rsquo;s statement on the social media platform X after the settlement didn&rsquo;t hold back about what was truly going on.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ADOovdpDDe\">pic.twitter.com\/ADOovdpDDe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matthew Garrett (@DrMattGarrett) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrMattGarrett\/status\/1817318120165621830?\">July 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am pleased to announce that truth, facts and free speech have prevailed,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After five years of administrative misconduct, a decisive courtroom display exonerated me of all allegations and exposed that Kern Community College District engaged in flagrant retaliation for my questioning of partisan policies and wasteful expenditures.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Facing an imminent ruling in my favor and the prospect of paying millions of dollars in damages, KCCD had only one viable option: settlement.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Now, there&rsquo;s no question that this is a win for conservatives &mdash; for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-kamalas-vp-choice-says-no-guarantee-free-speech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free speech<\/a> and for liberty.<\/p>\n<p>A college professor who stands up to the woke mindset that is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gender-equality-dean-caught-camera-running-interference-terror-supporting-groups-campus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">destroying American higher education<\/a> &mdash; from the prestige <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/harvard-professor-told-not-publish-study-racial-bias-police-shootings-broke-loose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">of the Ivy League<\/a> to community colleges in California &mdash; should never be threatened with professional destruction simply for exercising the freedom of speech the United States Constitution guarantees.<\/p>\n<p>But it clearly happened in Garrett&rsquo;s case &mdash; no matter what fig leaf the district&rsquo;s legalistic statement tried to put on it.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Garrett had the professional status of tenure to fight back.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there are too many others who might be subject to similar retaliation who do not have the same resources.<\/p>\n<p>For them, Garrett had a message:<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am pleased to announce the District chose to settle,&rdquo; his statement on X concluded.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;However the fight for free speech continues at Bakersfield College and institutions across the nation. Keep the faith: We are winning the battle, one case at a time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That&rsquo;s the last word in this case &mdash; and that&rsquo;s what matters.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p>   <script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An outspoken conservative professor is having the final say against the community college that dismissed him, and it comes with a hefty price tag. In 2021, Matthew Garrette, who was a tenured history professor at Bakersfield College in California&#8217;s Kern Community College District, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that the district infringed upon his First Amendment rights by retaliating against him for opposing campus diversity policies, as reported by Fox News. In July, an agreement was reached where the district will pay Garrett $2.4 million to settle the case.<\/p>\n<p>The conflict began in 2019 when Garrett gave a speech on campus advocating for free speech and criticized the use of district funds for social justice initiatives, according to a report from College Fix in 2020. Following this speech, the district initiated an investigation into Garrett&#8217;s conduct. In 2023, Fox reported that the board of trustees voted to terminate his employment citing &#8220;immoral and unprofessional conduct.&#8221; The settlement includes an upfront payment of $154,520 with additional payments spread over two decades; it also covers Garrett\u2019s legal fees. In exchange for this settlement, Garrett agreed to withdraw his complaint and resign from his position.<\/p>\n<p>This outcome is seen as a significant victory for Garrett; however, the district does not acknowledge any wrongdoing. They stated that settling was in their best interest so they could focus on providing quality education without further legal issues. The statement clarified that their actions were disciplinary due to what they deemed disruptive behavior rather than related to freedom of speech.<\/p>\n<p>Those familiar with recent trends in higher education regarding dissenting opinions may find it hard to believe claims about valuing true free speech on campuses today. After reaching this settlement, Garrett expressed on social media platform X that he felt vindicated: \u201cI am pleased to announce that truth, facts and free speech have prevailed,\u201d he wrote. He emphasized how administrative misconduct had led him through five years of challenges but ultimately resulted in exoneration from all allegations.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett highlighted KCCD\u2019s decision to settle as recognition of their untenable position facing potential damages if they continued fighting against him legally\u2014a clear win not just for himself but also for conservatives advocating free expression within academia.<\/p>\n<p>He noted how important it is for professors who challenge prevailing ideologies not be subjected to professional repercussions simply because they exercise their constitutional rights\u2014something he experienced firsthand despite having tenure which provided some protection during this ordeal.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett concluded by encouraging others facing similar situations: \u201cThe fight for free speech continues at Bakersfield College and institutions across the nation&#8230; We are winning one case at a time.\u201d This marks an important moment regarding academic freedom and serves as motivation moving forward<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2323871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/prof.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[38030,38029,32189,32869],"class_list":["post-2323870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-california-college","tag-conservative-professor","tag-higher-education","tag-legal-battle"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/prof.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2323870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2323871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2323870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2323870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2323870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}