PULLMAN, Wash. — A Washington State University journalism professor is suing administrators in federal court, claiming they violated his free-speech rights.

The lawsuit by David Demers contends that some WSU administrators punished him for proposing a plan in 2007 to improve the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, which he called one of the poorest funded schools of its size in the nation.

WSU spokesman James Tinney said the university would defend its actions.

Demers also argues in his lawsuit that he was punished with poor performance reviews for writing a book that questions the commitment of universities to the free-speech rights of faculty and students. He wants the court to expunge the annual reviews, make appropriate salary adjustments, pay attorneys’ fees and assess damages.