hired...fired...discombobulated
Did you know that the State of California requires all state university employees to sign a loyalty oath?

I was under the impression that loyalty oaths were a thing of the McCarthy past, as out of fashion as a vacuum tube television. That they were unconstitutional when applied to citizens with no access to state-sensitive information. That religious minorities such as Friends (Quakers) were exempted from swearing out oaths.

I was misinformed.

I won't bore you with the legislative ups and downs. Suffice it to say that current Ca law does indeed require all state employees to take the oath, but written into the legislation are loopholes. One loophole, intended to protect "academic freedom," allows for employees to attach "memorandum of understanding" to the oath. In other words, if I object to the oath for whatever reason I can state the nature of my objection so long as I do not nullify the oath. I can clarify for my own peace of mind what "defend the federal and state constitutions from all enemies, foreign and domestic" means to me.

Unfortunately the administration of a certain state university which shall remain nameless is either unaware of this provision or is knowingly breaking the law.

I can't say more at this time because my case is currently under review with the ACLU.

Looks like I will have more time this semester for writing.