Ollman v. Toll

Bertell Oilman is a political scientist and, with regard to his personal political views, a Marxist. In 1978, he was offered the position of chairperson of the department of government and politics at the University of Maryland at College Park, subject to *140approval by the university’s president. The president, John S. Toll, ultimately disallowed Oilman’s appointment, and Oilman brought this action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983,1985(c), and 1986, alleging that he was denied the position because of his political beliefs in violation of his fourteenth amendment privilege of free expression.

After a…