Banned SUNY Professor Fights Back with Lawsuit for Reinstatement on Campus

• Stephen Kershnar Faces Teaching Ban at SUNY Campus Over Comments on Pedophilia
• Kershnar Files Lawsuit Against SUNY, Citing Violation of Civil Rights
• First Hearing Held Between Kershnar and SUNY

Stephen Kershnar, a philosophy professor, faces a teaching ban at a SUNY campus following his controversial remarks on pedophilia. The first hearing between Kershnar and SUNY took place this week as he fights to regain his position in the classroom.

In June, Kershnar filed a lawsuit against the State University of New York at Fredonia, alleging a violation of his civil rights due to the teaching ban incurred by his comments. The lawsuit had its initial hearing on Wednesday at the Western Federal District Court in New York.

The controversy sparked from Kershnar’s appearance on the “Brain in a Vat” podcast in 2022, where he expressed views that questioned the moral implications of adult-child sex. He argued that the act may not necessarily be inherently wrong, contrary to widely held beliefs.

While Kershnar had previously advocated for the criminalization of pedophilia, his podcast comments caused significant backlash and led to petitions against him. SUNY school administrators condemned his statements as “morally reprehensible and irresponsible.”

As a result, Kershnar was banned from the campus and forbidden from teaching classes. Despite remaining employed by SUNY, he has been assigned non-student-facing work for the past year.

Through his lawsuit, Kershnar seeks to challenge the ban and return to teaching. He claims violations of his civil rights, infringement upon his freedom of speech, and yielding to social media outrage.

SUNY administrators, President Stephen Kolison Jr. and Executive Vice President and Provost David Starrett, countered the allegations in a motion to dismiss the suit. Their lawyers argue that Kershnar’s speech does not warrant First Amendment protection as it was not made as a private citizen discussing a matter of public concern.

Represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Kershnar continues to pursue his case. SUNY has not provided immediate comment on the matter.