AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas State University professor’s public musings about overthrowing the U.S. government have set off a firestorm of controversy and a university investigation.
The incident is fueling debate over the limits of free speech on campus, legal boundaries for radical rhetoric, and what academic freedom means in an era of charged politics.
Tom Alter, an associate professor of history at Texas State University in San Marcos, was captured on video at a Revolutionary Socialism Conference expressing support for ousting the federal government.
He characterized the United States as “the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world” and asked, “Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow” such a powerful government.
He described his left-wing group as “by no means just a reading club” and said “reforms are not enough,” dismissing mainstream progressive politics as insufficient. Alter also noted that Texas State trains the largest number of teachers in the state, a fact that concerned critics who argued his radical views could influence future classrooms.
University officials quickly responded once the video spread online.
“Texas State University is aware of controversial comments made by a faculty member at a conference over the weekend. The university is investigating the matter and will take appropriate action based on the findings,” the school initially said.
By mid-week, President Kelly Damphousse announced that Alter had been placed on leave and then terminated, saying the professor’s comments “amounted to serious professional and personal misconduct” and were “directly contrary to the values of Texas State University.”
Alter’s attorneys argue his firing violated his First Amendment rights. They insist he was speaking as a private citizen and that his remarks—while provocative—are protected expressions. His legal team has signaled intent to sue the university for wrongful termination, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown.
U.S. law has long grappled with how far radical speech can go. The Smith Act of 1940 once criminalized advocating violent revolution, but later Supreme Court rulings narrowed those restrictions.
In Yates v. United States (1957), the Court ruled that abstract advocacy of overthrow is protected speech. In Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), justices established that only speech intended and likely to incite “imminent lawless action” can be punished (Justia).
Alter’s words appear to fall under abstract advocacy, not direct incitement. His defenders point to this legal precedent, while the university argues that faculty have special responsibilities and his rhetoric was incompatible with his role.
The controversy recalls earlier eras when professors faced punishment for suspected communist sympathies or radical speech, particularly during the Red Scare and Vietnam War protests. In those times, society wrestled with balancing outrage against constitutional freedoms.
Today, Texas is again in the spotlight as lawmakers push legislation to curb what they see as progressive overreach in higher education. Recent laws have eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion offices and expanded oversight by politically appointed regents.
Critics also note an uneasy irony: prayer in public schools has been barred since 1962, when the Supreme Court ruled against state-sponsored prayer in Engel v. Vitale. A teacher cannot lead students in prayer without facing legal repercussions, yet a professor felt comfortable suggesting rebellion against the government.
The American Association of University Professors has called for Alter’s reinstatement, warning that his firing “set a dangerous new precedent for partisan interference in Texas higher education.”
Supporters argue academic freedom protects scholars who express unpopular or unconventional views. Detractors say open talk of overthrowing the government is too extreme for someone entrusted with shaping young minds.
Alter’s fight is now moving to the courts, where the outcome may set precedent for how far academic freedom extends. Residents across the Lone Star State will be tracking this case.
