KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - WVLT News has obtained letters between University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dr. Tamar Shirinian, an assistant professor who came under fire for her comments about Charlie Kirk’s death. The letters outline the expedited process Plowman took to fire Shirinian, along with the professor’s response.

While she admitted that her comments were inappropriate, Shirinian argued that her firing violated her right to free speech, also pointing to comments another UT professor made in 2016 calling for violence against African American rights activists. In her letter, Shirinian said the university did not respond to those comments with the same severity Plowman has reacted to her own post.

Shirinian has also threatened to take the university to court over the m

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