The University of Texas at Dallas: Student Sanctioned for Cursing at Parking Attendants
Cases
University of Texas at Dallas
Case Overview
FIRE Victory closed
On April 11, 2023, after receiving a parking ticket, Univeristy of Texas at Dallas graduate student Cody Hatfield told a group of parking enforcement officers to “get a real job” and called them “fucking parasites.” After the officers filed a complaint, the university imposed a two-year deferred suspension on him. Additionally, an administrator told him that even if his speech was constitutionally protected, the university could still punish him. FIREwrote the UT Dallas on August 14 explaining why it could not punish Hatfield for his constitutionally protected expression. On August 18, the university rescinded the sanctions against him.