Despite repeated questioning, the administration has not offered a valid explanation for why Professor Sawant was not rehired. This action by the college administration appears to be in retaliation for Dr. Sawant's political activism, and for the critical perspectives she brings into her classes, where she teaches economics from the point of view of the 99%, not the 1%. She was a prominent Occupy activist last fall and helped fight the administration's proposal to limit free speech on campus.

Most alarmingly, Dr. Sawant's firing could be interpreted as a warning to other teachers that if they want to keep their job, they had better keep their mouth shut.

No one should lose their job for standing up for the 99%!