Angela McCaskill, the Gallaudet University administrator who was put on leave last week after it was revealed that she signed a petition to put same-sex marriage on the ballot on Maryland, is fighting back, arguing that she should not have been punished for exercising her democratic rights: Reports WJLA:

“Signing that petition is a right that I have as a citizen of the state of Maryland. It simply means that I want to see this very sensitive issue put on the ballot as a referendum in the state of Maryland,” McCaskill said.

Her attorney, J. Wyndal Gordon, says McCaskill will not express her personal view on the matter. He says she will do that in the voting booth.

At a press conference today in Annapolis, McCaskill, who served as the university’s chief diversity officer, went a step further, saying: “I’m dismayed that Gallaudet is still a university of intolerance…allows bullying among staff and students.” She also said that she would seek compensation for mental and emotional distress.

In a statement issued today, university President T. Alan Hurwitz said he wanted to work with her to ensure she could return to her position. In the statement, he said that the problem wasn’t so much that she signed the petition, but rather what it might lead students to believe about her ability to do her job:

As many know, Dr. McCaskill exercised her right to sign a petition concerning legislation on gay marriage. Because of her position at Gallaudet as our Chief Diversity Officer, many individuals at our university were understandably concerned and confused by her action. They wanted to know ‘does that action interfere with her ability to perform her job?’

I placed her on paid administrative leave as a prudent action to allow the university—and Dr. McCaskill—the time to consider this question after the emotions of first reactions subsided.

The decision to put McCaskill on leave has provoked criticisms from a number of groups, including both sides of the same-sex marriage debate in Maryland.