Sam Houston State University Graduate Student Expelled for Critical Tweets

Phelan Dickerson, a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health program at Sam Houston State University, faced repeated mistreatment by faculty, including discriminatory grading and verbal abuse. When she reported these issues to administrators, she faced retaliation, including the rejection of her candidacy application under the guise of poor 'professionalism'.

After being forced to take a course taught by a professor who had previously verbally abused her, Dickerson took to Twitter to express her frustration regarding the lack of consequences for the faculty member. The university subsequently dismissed her from the program, claiming she failed to use 'appropriate channels' for her complaints.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) intervened, arguing that the university's actions violated the First Amendment, which protects students' rights to publicly criticize university faculty and administration. Following legal pressure, Sam Houston State University reversed its decision, allowing Dickerson to resume her degree program.