By Nancy Rosenstock

On September 10, 2025, Dr. Tom Alter, a tenured professor of history at Texas State University (TSU) in San Marcos, Texas, was fired for remarks made at an online socialist conference, speaking in his capacity as a private citizen. Alter was terminated by TSU president Kelly Damphousse without even a hearing.

This denial of due process was a clear violation of both Texas State University policy and Texas state law.

The grounds for Alter’s dismissal were solely based on a doctored video prepared by self-declared “anti-communist cult leader” Karlyn Borysenko. The video was edited to make Alter’s comments appear that he supported violence. In fact, Alter criticized the tactic of spontaneous violence.

In a notification Alter received from Damphousse on September 10 and again on September 23, the university president stated that Alter’s comments at the forum promoted “your vision for the recruitment of Americans into a ‘Revolutionary Socialist Party’ with the stated goal of overthrowing the United States government.”  In addition, Damphousse accused him of “inciting violence.”

Alter is a respected member of the TSU community, a socialist, and a labor historian. He is the author of Toward a Cooperative Commonwealth: Transplanted Roots of Farmer-Labor Radicalism in Texas, which details the history of working-class-based agrarian radicalism in Texas from the 1840s to the 1920s.

Alter and his supporters filed suit against this unjust dismissal. On September 26, in response to the suit, a Texas judge ordered Alter’s temporary reinstatement pending a hearing. Alter was reinstated but denied his right to teach classes. 

A hearing was then held on October 6 that included TSU president Damphousse. No decision was made at that hearing on Alter’s employment at Texas State.

“There are no grounds whatsoever for my termination,” Alter said afterward. “Damphousse has to decide whether to uphold the basic right to free speech or join an unprincipled attack on it.” 

On October 13, Damphousse fired Alter from his position at TSU. The lawsuit against Texas State seeking Alter’s reinstatement will now proceed.

Defense campaign takes off

Alter’s supporters went into action to fight this outright violation of the right to free speech codified in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The day after the October 6 hearing, students organized a rally. They have continued mobilizing every day in his defense.

The Texas State Employees Union, of which Alter is a member, immediately came to his defense and the American Association of University Professors provided a lawyer.

The Committee to Defend Tom Alter was established consisting of faculty, staff, and union and community members and is reaching out broadly.

Support for Alter has poured in from around the country.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Texas State chapter stated:

The Texas State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP-TXST) condemns Dr. Thomas Alter’s termination and the manner in which it was carried out. His termination violated his First Amendment rights to free expression as a US citizen, his rights to academic freedom and free inquiry, and his rights to due process as a tenured professor as outlined by Texas State University policy. We demand his immediate reinstatement and call upon the leaders of our state and institution to cease attacks on our academic freedom. 

The Labor and Working-Class History Association stated in part:

Without a hearing or adherence to other formal processes, this firing goes against the principles of academic freedom and employee rights that are central to higher education in a democracy. No university president should have the power to fire a scholar in this way. We stand with organizations committed to democracy and free speech.

After receiving notice on October 13 that he had been officially fired, Alter commented: “My termination, in clear violation of my First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, association, and of assembly, brings shame, embarrassment, and a heavy blow to the academic reputation of Texas State University. This hurts not only faculty, staff, current students and alumni but the San Marcos community as well.”

What’s at stake

The egregious firing of Tom Alter raises serious concerns not only for university professors but for all supporters of democratic rights. It is part of an offensive led by the Trump administration to not only curtail our rights but to frame universities not as bastions of academic freedom but as centers of right-wing thought and ideology. It is part of the onslaught against immigrants, workers fighting for unions, supporters of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, and all defenders of free speech.

The national pattern of curtailing dissent at universities has been reflected at Texas State University in other ways.

A few days after Alter was fired, Damphousse approved the expulsion of a Black student for protesting a campus Turning Point USA event honoring Charlie Kirk. A staff member at Texas State was also dismissed for public political views opposing the removal of the student.

The attack on Alter “is a violation not only of academic freedom, but the basic constitutional protection of free speech under the First Amendment,” said Bill V. Mullen, coordinator of the Committee to Defend Tom Alter. “If this can happen to Tom Alter, it can happen to anyone. That is why there is a growing campaign to defend Dr. Alter, because if he loses his right to free speech, everyone’s right is at risk.”

How to support the campaign to reinstate Alter

Immediate action can be taken now:

• Sign and circulate the Statement in Support of Tom Alter;
• Donate to the GoFundMe account for Tom’s legal and political defense as well as for his family who now have no income or health insurance;
• Organize to get your trade union, school, community or other organization to support the campaign;
• Spread the word on social media;
• For more information, go to the defense committee website.  

“The struggle did not begin with me, it will not end with me,” Tom Alter said. “The struggle for free speech will continue regardless of the outcome. If it is positive, it will be a victory that will strengthen the struggle to defend hundreds of others being attacked, fired, and persecuted for their ideas. If it is negative, we will be on the front line of that struggle nonetheless.”

An injury to one is an injury to all.

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