After weeks of debate by many over whether his academic freedom was violated, the University announced Thursday that adjunct professor Dr. Kenneth Howell has been offered the opportunity to teach Introduction to Catholicism again this fall. But with one major change.

Howell’s salary would now be paid by the University, rather than St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, which had been funding Howell’s teaching position for the past nine years.

Beginning in the fall, the University will be paying the salaries of instructors teaching any Catholic studies classes for credit, University officials said in a press release.

Howell was dismissed from teaching Catholic studies classes in May after an anonymous student sent an e-mail complaint to religion department head Robert McKim, accusing Howell of engaging in hate speech while discussing the Catholic Church’s views on homosexuality.

Since then, hundreds of supporters have been pressuring President Michael Hogan and other University officials, lobbying for Howell’s reinstatement and claiming his First Amendment rights had been violated.

“We’re extremely pleased that Dr. Howell is back in the classroom and will be teaching this fall,” said David Hacker, litigation staff counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which has been providing support for Howell since his dismissal.

Additionally, University counsel Steven Veazie wrote in a July 28 letter to the ADF that the Faculty Senate’s Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure “will continue its review of the situation surrounding the earlier decision not to offer Dr. Howell a teaching assignment for the fall semester.”

Hackey added that the ADF “will be watching carefully to make sure that Professor Howell’s academic freedom is protected throughout the ongoing process.”

Student supporters on campus also expressed joy and caution at Howell’s reappointment.

Graduate student Eli Lazar said the University’s decision exemplifies what can happen if enough students speak out passionately about an issue.

“I think it really shows that we have a University president that feels the ‘pulse’ of students on campus,” Lazar said.

Lazar also said precautions should be considered to ensure the original decision by McKim does not continue to affect the University.

“Given the amount of negative attention this has brought to the University, it would seem inappropriate just to leave it as a mistake with a hope it will not happen again in the future,” he said.

Howell is currently out of town and could not be reached for comment.

The University said Howell would continue his role as adjunct professor in the fall, which could leave him vulnerable to any future dismissals.

Trisha Tan, a former student of Howell’s who has taken on the role of his press secretary since the controversy began, said numerous unanswered questions remain.

“I don’t think this issue is resolved,” she said. “But for now I’m very happy.”