Ex Parte Auburn University

BOLIN, Justice.

Auburn University, its president Dr. Jay Gogue,1 and Dr. Gaines Smith (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the petition*480ers”) petition this Court for a writ of mandamus directing the Lee Circuit Court to enter a summary judgment in their favor based on sovereign immunity and State-agent immunity as to the claims asserted against them by Brenda M. Allen, Austin K. Hagan, Charles C. Mitchell, Jr., James L. Novak, J. Walter Prevatt, Eugene H. Simpson III, and James 0. Donald (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the plaintiffs”), all tenured professors employed by Auburn…