A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit that a former Clemson professor filed against the University following his termination.
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina filed the lawsuit in October after the professor, Joshua Bregy, reposted another user’s social media post that called conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death “karma.”
Clemson College Republicans and Clemson’s Turning Point USA Chapter called out the repost on their respective social media accounts. The organizations, along with South Carolina lawmakers, promptly urged the University to fire Bregy and two other faculty members.
Bregy was an assistant professor in the University’s department of environmental engineering and earth sciences.
The initial complaint alleged that the University violated the professor’s First Amendment rights. Named defendants included former President Jim Clements, Clemson’s board of trustees and Interim President Bob Jones, Clemson’s provost at the time.
The case was settled on Monday. U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin signed the order and stated that the court had been notified that the parties reached a settlement, adding that the action was being dismissed “without costs and without prejudice,” according to Fox Carolina News.
In the agreement, the University agreed to rescind Bregy’s termination, which occurred in September 2025. Jones agreed not to “assert or reassert any grievance arising from the facts alleged in his Complaint,” per the mediated settlement agreement.
Bregy will receive his “contractual pay with benefits” through May 15, 2026. However, he will not be allowed to teach, conduct research, fulfill faculty obligations or engage in any interactions with students during this time.
Interim President Jones, while in his position, will issue “positive letters of recommendation” to Bregy’s potential employers based on Bregy’s previous teaching within the classroom.
The order gives the parties 60 days to finalize the settlement. It states that if the settlement is not finalized within that time, either party may request that the case be reopened and restored to the calendar, according to Fox Carolina.
The order also says that if no action is taken, the dismissal will convert to a dismissal with prejudice. The filing did not disclose the terms of the settlement.
This is a developing story. The Tiger will update this article with information as it becomes available.
