There was a four-month investigation into comments she made during a classroom discussion on race.

FIRE reports.

Victory: University of Kansas Professor Reinstated After Four-Month Investigation Into Classroom Speech

LAWRENCE, Kan., March 21, 2016—A University of Kansas communications professor was cleared of any wrongdoing late Friday after a four-month investigation into comments she made during a classroom discussion on race. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) wrote to KU last month, urging the university to recognize that the professor’s comments are protected by the First Amendment and that any punishment would violate her rights.

“I am tremendously relieved to have this process complete as the last four months have been a terribly emotionally distressing time for me and my family,” said assistant professor of communications studies Andrea Quenette. “The outcome of the investigation was fair, reflecting the truth in this situation, and the university did due diligence. From the beginning I, and many others, believed my speech was appropriate for an educational context, and now, there can be no question regarding the educational appropriateness and intent of my words—academic freedom prevailed.”

The controversy surrounding Quenette’s comments arose on November 12, 2015, during a graduate seminar discussion about race. The previous day, KU held a forum on racial and cultural issues affecting the campus in response to student protests over racial issues at the University of Missouri.