Michael O'Keefe: Oklahoma Christian University fires tenured professor for inviting gay speaker
Oklahoma Christian University has fired Michael O'Keefe, a tenured professor after he reportedly invited a gay speaker to talk about overcoming struggles in life. The arts and design professor was working at the private facility in Oklahoma City for 41 years before the incident.
O’Keefe introduced multiple speakers in a class entitled “The Business of Branding Yourself”. One of the speakers who happened to be gay shared his personal experiences as a Christian and overcoming the challenges in his life. Before his speech, he warned students that he would be using some explicit language. Julia Layne, a former student of O'Keefe's, also reinstated that the speaker had warned the class he would use offensive words, and he said “d**k” and “bitch” once in his speech.
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After the class, the private facility launched an investigation and as a result, O’Keefe was fired citing gross misconduct and infuriating many of his students. Contrary to the universities decision, Layne said O'Keefe was “the kind of professor who sets his students up for success in every way” and who “changed my life for the better”. Many other students joined Layne in praising O'Keefe as an inspirational and dedicated teacher.
Kevin Jacob, O'Keefe’s attorney said “It's embarrassing for a Christian university, and it doesn't sound like much of a university if you can't have a free exchange of ideas,”. He added that O'Keefe is “'a remarkable teacher” and that he was responsible for building the design studies program in the university from scratch.
“The graduates coming out of there had their pick of jobs. If you came out of O'Keefe's classes, you had his endorsement, and you could bet the students knew what they were doing. He was trying to help students transition from an academic environment to a real work environment. He was using alums to come in and speak to that, to continue the collegiality.” told Jacob, who himself is an alumnus to DailyMail.com.
Lori Osley, O’Keefe’s wife announced the news of his firing in a Facebook post on Saturday. Lori’s post garnered outpouring love and support but mostly the readers were provoked and infuriated by the university’s decision.
Stephen Eck, the university's chief legal officer also confirmed O'Keefe’s firing and claimed it was for the “wellbeing of our students”. “The decision to end employment was made after a thorough review process. The university will always put first the wellbeing of our students in every decision we make,” Eck said.
