Joseph Corlett, 57, sued Oakland University Friday for $2.2 million and four lost credits alleging that his free-speech rights were violated after he was suspended for writing about his attraction to teachers in a class journal in 2011, according to Fox News.
Corlett is a home builder and enrolled in the university because of the weak economy after earning an associate degree from Oakland Community College.
The journal titled 'Hot For Teacher' was named after a song by the rock band 'Van Halen.' In the journal, he compared his female lecturer to Ginger, a hot character in the 1960s TV show 'Gilligan's Island.'
After reading this journal, the concerned professor informed the dean.
The university officials removed Corlett from the writing class last year and suspended him for three semesters. They also advised him to undergo counseling, if he wished to return to the university.
Corlett told the newspaper that the English 380 class encouraged students to write raw stuff, a personal diary that one wouldn't want anyone to read.
He alleges that the professor did not have any problem with his earlier essay on accidentally seeing women's breasts that fetched him an A grade.
Attorney Alari Adams said to the newspaper that Corlett was seeking $2.2 million in damages for causing mental suffering and embarrassment after being kicked out of school.
Corlett said that when one is deprived of academic freedom then it means no free speech and to top it all, there is no constitutional protection against being offended.
