Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon has reached a settlement with former English professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner for his wrongful termination. The private university will pay $1 million to Pollack-Pelzner, who was fired in 2021 after reporting several incidents, including antisemitic remarks made by the university’s president, Miles K. Davis.

Pollack-Pelzner had accused Davis of making antisemitic jokes and comments, leading to his termination. He then sued the university for $4 million. A report by the American Association of University Professors concluded that Linfield had violated Pollack-Pelzner’s academic freedom and right to due process.

The settlement will prevent any further legal action by Pollack-Pelzner against the university, however, it does not prevent him from speaking about the case. It also does not include details about his claims or require the university to apologize.

Following Pollack-Pelzner’s firing, several people affiliated with Linfield, including the director of the university’s wine studies program, left in solidarity with him. Despite calls for Davis’ resignation from groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Oregon Board of Rabbis, he remains as president of the university nearly three years later.

Pollack-Pelzner is now a visiting professor at Portland State University and a scholar-in-residence at the Portland Shakespeare Project. Linfield University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches.

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