University officials ultimately rejected any compromise that would allow Meriwether to speak according to his conscience and sincerely held religious beliefs. Shawnee State University has agreed to pay $400,000 to end a three-year legal battle in its failed attempt to force the Christian philosophy professor to call students by their preferred pronouns.

In January 2018, Professor Nicholas Meriwether at Shawnee State University responded to a male student's question by saying "Yes, sir."

The student then approached him and told Meriwether that he was transgender and wanted to be referred to him as a woman.

When Meriwether didn't agree, the student complained to the university.