Firing a Professor for 'Left-Wing' Views Is Unconstitutional

On Tuesday, conservative activist and New College of Florida trustee Christopher Rufo announced that the college had declined to renew a visiting professor's contract because of his purportedly "left-wing" views. 

While Rufo hailed the ouster as a victory for the "classical liberal arts tradition," he didn't seem to realize that it was also likely a violation of the First Amendment.

The New College of Florida is a small, public liberal arts university in Sarasota, Florida. The university, known for its "uniquely" accepting environment for LGBT students, has recently been subject...