Tennessee University Settles $250K with Student Over Social Media Expulsion

Kimberly Diei, a pharmacy student at the University of Tennessee, has reached a $250,000 settlement after alleging her First Amendment rights were violated when the university attempted to expel her for posting lyrics from Cardi B's 'WAP' and Beyoncé's 'Partition' on social media. The university initiated disciplinary actions after receiving anonymous complaints regarding her posts, which they deemed 'crude,' 'vulgar,' or 'sexual.' Diei argued that the university had no authority to regulate her personal social media activity, particularly since her posts did not mention the school. After a federal appellate court ruled in her favor, Diei's lawsuit against the university was settled, with $180,000 paid directly to her and $70,000 to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which represented her. She expressed relief over the settlement, emphasizing the case's broader implications for student speech rights. The case underscores the importance of protecting students' rights to express themselves off-campus without institutional repercussions.