Judge’s Order Clears Way for Fired Texas State University Professor’s Reinstatement

Sept. 26, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Nicole Hill, [email protected]

Amanda Reichek, [email protected]

Dr. Thomas Alter was terminated without due process for comments made at an outside event

AUSTIN, Texas - After several weeks of hysteria fueled by state lawmakers and internet agitators, the Texas American Federation of Teachers and the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (Texas AAUP-AFT) celebrate the first victory in court for educators caught up in a Texas-sized witch hunt.

On Friday, in a ruling from the bench, Hays County Judge Alicia Key granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Dr. Thomas Alter, who was terminated by Texas State University on Sept. 10, after comments he made at an outside conference in his personal capacity were posted online. His termination came just one day after Texas A&M University terminated a professor for teaching her approved course curriculum, which included analysis of LGBTQ+ representation in youth literature.

Together, the two incidents - and the simultaneous crusade by the Texas Education Agency against educators voicing personal opinions after the murder of Charlie Kirk - have created an air of uncertainty and panic among faculty, staff, and students.

Texas AFT and Texas AAUP-AFT continue to support, advise, and defend educators caught up in this perverse political spectacle. As that fight continues, we are proud to report that Dr. Alter is to be reinstated pending completion of the internal due process procedures contained in the Texas State University System's rules and regulations.

"No law passed by the Texas Legislature, or presidential order or university policy, supersedes the United States Constitution and its protection of the freedom of speech and expression. Let this be a real-time civics lesson for our elected so-called leaders," said Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT. "Though the fight is not over, I am glad Dr. Alter will be reinstated to payroll while the university honors his Constitutional rights. Today is a win for the First Amendment, as well as testament to worker solidarity. I thank the leaders and members of the Texas State Employees Union, Communication Workers of America, and the Texas AFL-CIO for their continuous advocacy and support for Dr. Alter."

"We are relieved to have won this important first victory for Dr. Alter and for all Texas faculty, who are on edge and increasingly demoralized after an onslaught of political attacks," said Dr. Brian Evans, president of Texas AAUP-AFT. "I echo our members at Texas State in demanding an end to the illegal and imprudent assaults on our civil liberties. If Texas is to retain any shred of its reputation as top-tier research destination, it cannot continue to alienate, threaten, and drive out the educators and students who have driven its success."

Alter is being represented by Amanda Reichek, counsel with Tillotson, Johnson & Patton, who was referred by Texas AAUP-AFT.

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The Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), affiliated with the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has 2,100 members on 95 campuses. We are a faculty-led union defending the right to teach, research, and speak freely. More info .

The Texas American Federation of Teachers represents 66,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and higher-education employees across the state. Texas AFT is affiliated with the 1.8 million-member American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO.