When Albert Romkes was denied tenure, he decided he wasn’t going to leave the University of Kansas without a fight.

First the mechanical-engineering professor appealed directly to the chancellor. When that failed, he turned to the courts to force Kansas to reconsider. Finally, still facing the loss of his job, he and his supporters made the fight very, very public.

Color brochures. A Web site. Posters. Picket signs.

At the very least, they figured, they would make sure the university’s version of events didn’t become the official narrative.

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