Can a public university penalize a professor for being “Too Christian”? And can employees be required to take DEI training they believe is discriminatory?

Arizona State University professor Owen Anderson joins Shabbos Kestenbaum on The Brief to discuss his lawsuit challenging ASU's diversity, equity, and inclusion training, a recent dispute over his classroom teaching, and the fight over academic freedom at public universities. Anderson says administrators criticized his philosophy and religion courses for being too Christian, even as his separate lawsuit over mandatory DEI training reached the Arizona Supreme Court.

In this conversation, Anderson explains why he believes ASU's training violated Arizona law, what the university argues in response, and why the Supreme Court's decision on his ability to bring the lawsuit could affect other public employees. They also discuss the 2023 controversy involving Dennis Prager and Charlie Kirk at ASU, religious discrimination allegations, freedom of speech, and whether universities are teaching students how to think—or what to think.