In New York, a pro-life display was declared by a professor to be an act of “violence.” In Colorado, a university site warned that misgendering is violence. It is part of a national pattern on campuses where opposing views are declared “harmful” or “violent” as a justification for censorship or even violence. Now, University of Michigan economics professor Justin Wolfers has declared some of those boycotting the store Target over its line of LGBTQ+ “Pride” clothing are guilty of “literal terrorism.” Continue reading “Michigan Economics Professor: Boycotting Target is “Literal Terrorism” [Updated]” →

We previously discussed how surveys at universities show a virtual purging of conservative and Republican faculty members. Last year, the Harvard Crimson noted that the university had virtually eliminated Republicans from most departments but that the lack of diversity was not a problem.  Now, a new survey conducted by the Harvard Crimson shows that more than three-quarters of Harvard Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty respondents identify as “liberal” or “very liberal.” Only 2.5% identified as “conservative,” and only 0.4% as “very conservative.” Continue reading “Harvard Survey: Over 75 Percent of the Harvard Faculty Identifies as “Liberal” or “Very Liberal’” →

Ohio Northern University’s Petite College of Law has a curious view of due process.  The law school sent security officers into the class of Professor Scott Gerber in April and removed him from the class.  He was then barred from teaching or even coming on campus. If you think it must have been something unspeakable, you are right. No one has yet to fully explain to Gerber why he has been subject to these measures. I have been waiting to write on the case because I assumed the law school would be forthcoming on the details. It has not despite a growing number of calls for explanations of the underlying claims being made against this academic.

Continue reading “Ohio Northern Pulls Law Professor Out of Classroom … But Will Not Explain Why” →

University of Pennsylvania Anthropology Professor Theodore Schurr is apparently an academic recidivist in allowing a diversity of viewpoints in a classroom. For that offense, Dr. Schurr is again the subject of complaints and a call for suspension. Tolerating, let alone encouraging, such diversity of viewpoints in a classroom is now considered harmful and abusive. Continue reading “Penn Anthropology Professor Under Fire For Discussion of Transgender Issues in Class” →

Michigan State University (MSU) students are suing a professor who allegedly forced them and other students to pay $99 each to her personal political advocacy organization. An estimated $60,000 was raised for The Rebellion Community, which funds Planned Parenthood and other liberal causes. MSU has offered to repay the money but Amy Wisner, professor of marketing at the MSU College of Business (who has reportedly been let go by the university) has not been required to return any of the money. The students allege that Wisner linked to a Facebook page associated with “The Rebellion Community” and noted “The Rebellion community is a safe place to coordinate our efforts to burn everything to the f***ing ground.” (One has to appreciate the fact that, even in a rebellion to “burn everything to ground,” Wisner offered a safe space for the self-described arsonists).

Continue reading “Michigan State University Professor Allegedly Required Students to Contribute to Her Advocacy Group” →

We recently discussed the controversy involving a University of Pittsburgh anthropology professor who declared that you cannot tell the gender of an individual from their bones. Now the editor-in-chief of Scientific American Laura Helmuth is under fire for claiming that certain birds have four sexes. Continue reading ““Nature is Amazing”: Feathers Fly Over Claim of Scientific American Editor that Some Birds Have Four Sexes” →

Today, I have the pleasure of returning to the University of Chicago for a talk on law and politics. I will be joined by Larry Krasner, Philadelphia District Attorney. It is all part of the alumni events at UChicago, my alma mater.  Both Krasner and I were graduates of the 1983 class as were figures like commentator and columnist David Brooks. This weekend has been a wonderful opportunity not only to spend time with my soon-to-be 96-year-old mother on the Northside but to return to my alma mater.  When I was looking at other universities over 40 years ago, I was advised by a counselor that UChicago was the only place for socially dysfunctional nerds like myself. He was right and I have long been proud of the school for remaining a bastion of free speech, including being ranked as the number one free speech school in the country. Continue reading “Turley to Speak at Event with Larry Krasner at The University of Chicago” →