Category: Academia

Yale Awards 80 Percent of Grades in the A Range

We recently discussed the runaway grade inflation at Harvard where roughly 80 percent of grades were As. Now the Yale Daily News is reporting the same percentage of As. Indeed, the percentage is virtually identical. Harvard is handing out 79 percent agrees where Yale is apparently more rigorous at 78.9.The report is apparently an embarrassment to the university since the dean of Yale College said that professors are not adhering to guidelines for grading. Continue reading “Yale Awards 80 Percent of Grades in the A Range”

New York High School Students Riot After Teacher Posts Pro-Israel Image on Facebook

At Hillcrest High School in Queens this week, a New York teacher had to lock herself in her office as hundreds of high school students rioted after learning that she posted a pro-Israeli statement on Facebook. Dozens of police had to be called to quell the riot, which caused property damage throughout the school. Continue reading “New York High School Students Riot After Teacher Posts Pro-Israel Image on Facebook”

Professors: Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity are Not Essential to Higher Education

Southern California Professor Forced to Teach Remotely After Inflammatory Rhetoric Against Hamas

Economics professor John Strauss from the University of Southern California is teaching remotely for the rest of the term in a controversy that has serious free speech implications. Strauss was made the subject of a protest after confronting protesters on campus and calling for all Hamas terrorists to be killed. A deceptively edited videotape was posted that made it sound like Strauss was calling for all Palestinians to be killed. The move is part of a disturbing trend limiting free speech on campuses. Continue reading “Southern California Professor Forced to Teach Remotely After Inflammatory Rhetoric Against Hamas”

Do or DEI? Federal Judge Finds DEI Policies are Mandatory and Unconstitutional in California Case

Below is my column in The Hill on the recent victory of a California professor in challenging diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies on free speech grounds. It is a rare win for dissenting faculty as DEI policies become more expansive and mandatory.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Do or DEI? Federal Judge Finds DEI Policies are Mandatory and Unconstitutional in California Case”

TERF War: Artist Canceled at Northeastern University over Gender Identity Views

Turley Publication on the Compulsion of Free Speech is Now Available

I am happy to announce the publication of my latest law review article, The Unfinished Masterpiece: Compulsion and the Evolving Jurisprudence Over Free Speech, 83 Md. L. Rev. 145 (2023)  The work not only discusses the recent 303 Creative ruling of the Supreme Court, but an important case now pending before the Court for possible review, Porter v. Board of Trustees of North Carolina State University. The Porter decision was decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and, in my view, represents a major threat to both free speech and academic freedom. Both cases are also discussed in my forthcoming book, The Indispensable Right.

Continue reading “Turley Publication on the Compulsion of Free Speech is Now Available”

Professor Luna Teaches Animal Torts at GWU Law School

Day Class Torts
Evening Class Torts

Yesterday, the students of day and evening torts were honored by a lecture from the leading American expert on animal tort liability, Professor Luna.  Herr Professor taught subjects like the “one free bite rule” and animus revertendi with the insight and intensity expected from a world renown canine academic. Continue reading “Professor Luna Teaches Animal Torts at GWU Law School”

The Censorship “Switchboard”: A New Layer to the Biden Administration’s “Orwellian Ministry of Truth”

Reading, Writing, and Walk Outs: New York Schools Brace for Mass Protest

A massive walkout in New York schools is planned for today in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.  Chancellor David Banks is being accused of threatening teachers about the protest and warning that they may be subject to discipline in some circumstances. The school system appears in a muddle given its past support for walkouts. My interest in the controversy is not the merits of the ceasefire but the incomprehensible policy being enforced by school officials in choosing what protests they will support. Continue reading “Reading, Writing, and Walk Outs: New York Schools Brace for Mass Protest”

THE INDISPENSABLE BOOK: THE TURLEY BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

I am pleased to announce that my book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in the Age of Rage, is now available for purchase. The book and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and other sites for pre-orders. Indeed, there are discounts for Kindle copies for pre-orders.  Simon & Schuster will release the book in June 2024, but it can be purchased now. Continue reading “THE INDISPENSABLE BOOK: THE TURLEY BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!”

Virginia Teacher Wins Major Ruling Against the School District After Being Shot by Six-Year-Old

There was a major and somewhat surprising ruling in the case of Abigail Zwerner, the elementary school teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student in January. Zwerner sued the school district for $40 million after learning that school officials knew that the child had brought a gun to school that day and that the child had previously threatened teachers. Newport News Circuit Court Judge Matthew Hoffman ruled that Zwerner was not confined to recovery under worker’s compensation because the shooting did not fall within the scope of her employment. Continue reading “Virginia Teacher Wins Major Ruling Against the School District After Being Shot by Six-Year-Old”

CUNY Adjunct Professor Shown Tearing Down Hamas Hostage Flyers

Yesterday, I posted the account of one of my children who followed another student at George Washington University as she tore down flyers of the Hamas hostages from poles around campus. The vandalism near our law school is occurring across the country as activists seek to prevent others from expressing their views on the war. When I posted the GWU incident yesterday, I noted that this is behavior that has been reinforced by faculty members who have engaged in violent and destructive conduct for years targeting pro-life and other causes. One such incident involved an adjunct professor at City University of New York. Callen Zimmerman is also accused of shoving a person confronting her on her actions. Continue reading “CUNY Adjunct Professor Shown Tearing Down Hamas Hostage Flyers”

Bachelors of Advocacy: The Rise of Activism over Academics in US Higher Education

Below is my column in The Hill on the rise of advocacy courses and degrees in higher education. Activism has always been a valued part of our colleges and universities. Indeed, many departments have long incorporated advocacy subjects in their course of study, including in law schools. My concern is the degree to which advocacy is now overwhelming academics in some of these programs. It is often hard to tell the difference between advocacy groups and advocacy programs in these universities. For some schools, a new B.A. model — a Bachelors of Advocacy — is emerging in higher education.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Bachelors of Advocacy: The Rise of Activism over Academics in US Higher Education”

Florida Moves to Ban Pro-Palestinian Student Group from Campuses

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration has ordered state universities to ban a pro-Palestinian student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The state has denounced SJP as supporting a “terrorist organization” after the massacre of Israelis by Hamas. I have previously written how Hamas is morally and legally a terrorist organization. However, this move would, in my view, violate the First Amendment and chill the exercise of free speech in higher education. Continue reading “Florida Moves to Ban Pro-Palestinian Student Group from Campuses”