An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Northwestern Prof. Wyndham Lathem, 42, in connection with the stabbing death of Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, 26, a cosmetologist from Michigan. Police are also seeking University of Oxford employee Andrew Warren, 56. The stabbing occurred at Lathem’s address and Cornell-Duranleau’s body showed lacerations.
Academics
Montclair Professor Calls For Trump To Be Killed
Women’s Studies Professor Kevin Allred at Montclair State University is back in the news. Allred previously attracted national attention (while on the Rutgers faculty) after he was reportedly ordered to go through a psychiatric evaluation after students “felt threatened” by him following Trump’s election. Now, Allred (who teaches a course on Beyonce) posted a comment that he hoped someone would kill Donald Trump. As should come as little surprise to many who know my view of the First Amendment, I view this statement as protected speech and hyperbolic. However, it was reckless, hateful, and worthy of condemnation.
Judge Richard Posner Declares Support For Supreme Court Expansion Proposal
I have previously discussed the legendary career of Judge Richard Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Widely viewed as the father of Law and Economics, Posner remains one of greatest influences on American jurisprudence in the history of this country. I have long been a great admirer of his work and teach his theories as part of my torts course. It is for that reason that I was delighted when my co-counsel sent me the interview below where Judge Posner expressed support for the proposal that I have advanced for many years to reform the Supreme Court. Posner agrees with the proposal to expand the Supreme Court to nineteen members.
San Diego Professor Criticizes Those Wishing “War Criminal” John McCain Sympathy Over His Cancer
Another controversy over free speech was triggered this week on social media by an academic expressing hateful views. Various people have called for San Diego State University Political Science Professor Jonathan Graubart to be fired after denouncing those wishing Sen. John McCain best wishes for his recovery. Graubart called McCain a “war criminal” and said that he was “annoyed” by all of the expressions of sympathy for his dire cancer prognosis. Others at the school supported and shared his views.
Ending “White Heteromasculinism”: Professors Call For Less Reliance On White, Male, Heterosexual, and “Cisgendered” Academics
A new study has called for a concerted effort to cite academics of color and greater diversity to make from the hold of “white heteromasculism” on research. Geographers Carrie Mott (professor at Rutgers University) and Daniel Cockayne (professor at University of Waterloo in Ontario) has identified the reliance on research by white males as a “system of oppression” benefitting “white, male, able-bodied, economically privileged, heterosexual, and cisgendered.” Cisgendered refers people whose gender identity matches their birth sex.
Trinity College Professor Cleared After Alleged Racist Postings Against White People
![](https://jonathanturley.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/hc-trinity-campus-closed-threats-20170621-003.jpg?w=600" alt="hc-trinity-campus-closed-threats-20170621-003" width="300" height="169" />There is a new controversy involving an investigation of a professor for statements made on social media. Trinity College Professor Johnny Williams has fled Connecticut after receiving death threats over his postings, including an inflammatory reference to people considered bigots and how we should "Let Them. F**king Die." Williams teaches classes on race and racism and clearly wanted to get others to read this hateful screed.</p><!--more-->As we have previously discussed (<a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2016/12/26/oregon-professor-causes-firestorm-over-black-face-costume-worn-at-party-off-campus/">including the recent controversies involving an Oregon professor</a> and a <a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2016/12/27/106981/">Drexel professor</a>), there remains an uncertain line in what language is protected for teachers in their private lives. The incident also raises what some faculty have complained is a double or at least uncertain standard. We have previously discussed controversies at the <a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2014/11/10/miller-young-and-university-of-california-sued-over-campus-assault-on-pro-life-advocates/">University of California</a> and <a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2015/05/22/news-calls-for-termination-of-saidi-grundy-after-disclosure-of-prior-criminal-impersonation-of-another-woman/">Boston University</a>, where there have been criticism of a double standard, <a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2014/11/10/miller-young-and-university-of-california-sued-over-campus-assault-on-pro-life-advocates/">even in the face of criminal conduct</a>. There were also such incident at the University of London involving <a href="https://jonathanturley.org/2015/10/07/university-of-london-diversity-officer-charged-with-threatening-communications-after-racist-and-sexist-comments/">Bahar Mustafa</a> as well as one involving a University of Pennsylvania professor.As is well known on this blog, I tend to favor free speech rights in all of these cases. In my view, this view does seem to be satire — bad satire but satire all the same. However, the standard remains entirely uncertain for academics as to whether their conduct or comments outside of school will be the basis for discipline. As a private institution, Drexel falls under a different standard than schools like the University of Oregon. Yet, free speech demands a bright line to avoid a chilling effect on those who want to challenge the status quo or popular views. Academics often write to challenge students and the public in exploring the edges of norms and beliefs.As you might expect, I view this latest controversy through the same free speech lens. The reaction to the social media posting in my view was overblown, including closing the entire campus by President Joanne Berger-Sweeney.<p class="column small-12 medium-10 medium-offset-1 large-offset-2 text size-1x-large line-height-large _10M0Ygc4"><img class=" size-full wp-image-119295 alignright" src="https://jonathanturley.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/300px-trinity_college_connecticut_seal-svg.png)
We previously discussed the controversy surrounding Trinity College Professor Johnny Williams and his posts against white people, including an inflammatory reference to people considered bigots and how we should “Let Them. F**king Die.” Williams teaches classes on race and racism and clearly wanted to get others to read this hateful screed.. As I am mentioned in the earlier post, I do not believe that Williams should have been punished for his postings as a matter of free speech and academic freedom. The College has now reached the same conclusion but the question remains whether the College will take a similar principled position for academics espousing such views about other races.
Columbia Settles Lawsuit With Male Student Accused Of Rape in “Mattress Girl” Case
Columbia University has reached a settlement in one of its most controversial cases of alleged sexual assault. Paul Nungesser, who was accused of raping a fellow classmate who became known as “mattress girl,” will receive a settlement. Emma Sulkowicz carried around a mattress on campus in protest, even taking the mattress to graduation. She received college credit for the protest as a form of performance art. Nungesser had lost twice over motions of dismissal and was pursuing an appeal
