John Sharp (Texas politician): Difference between revisions

In 2023, Sharp suspended Texas A&M University professor Joy Alonzo after she criticized Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's role in opioid crisis at a talk at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The investigation was spurred by a complaint by Texas Land Commissioner [[Dawn Buckingham]]. Less than two hours after Alonzo criticized Patrick, Patrick's chief of staff sent Sharp a link to Alonzo’s professional bio. Shortly thereafter, Sharp texted Patrick, "Joy Alonzo has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation re firing her. shud [sic] be finished by end of week."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Barragán |first=Kate McGee and James |date=2023-07-25 |title=Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/25/texas-a-m-professor-opioids-dan-patrick/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> An attorney from the [[Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression]] characterized the response as "inappropriate" and cited its potential to have a chilling effect for [[Freedom of speech in schools in the United States|free speech on campuses]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sainato |first=Michael |date=2023-07-25 |title=Texas professor suspended hours after criticizing lieutenant governor in lecture |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/25/texas-am-university-professor-suspended-dan-patrick |access-date=2023-07-25 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>. The investigation and Alonzo's administrative leave concluded two weeks after the lecture, finding no evidence of wrongdoing, and Alonzo was reinstated.<ref name=":2" />