Category: Academia

Academia, Free Speech

“She’s a … Professor!”: Albany Professor Arrested After Obstructing Pro-Life Display and Resisting Arrest

“She’s a [expletive] professor!” Those four words screamed by pro-choice protesters could well sum up the issue for the State University of New York at Albany after the arrest of sociology professor Renee Overdyke. At a recent pro-life demonstration, Overdyke unplugged an electric display to prevent students from expressing their opposition to abortion. She then resisted arrest. The question, which we have previously discussed, is where the university should draw the line in the conduct of faculty in preventing free speech. Continue reading ““She’s a … Professor!”: Albany Professor Arrested After Obstructing Pro-Life Display and Resisting Arrest” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Politics

Destroying a Democracy to Save It: Robert Reich Calls for Blocking Trump from Ballots as a Traitor

Robert Reich, the Berkeley professor and the former labor secretary under Clinton, has been known for his increasing anti-free speech views through the years including characterizing the restoration of free speech on social media as tyranny. He now believes that former President Donald Trump can be barred from running for president in 2024 because he “committed treason,” according to a new column in The Guardian. The argument is entirely without merit, but that does not prevent the media from repeating this flawed but cathartic claim. Continue reading “Destroying a Democracy to Save It: Robert Reich Calls for Blocking Trump from Ballots as a Traitor” →
Academia, Columns, Free Speech

The American Cultural Revolution: Whitworth Students Bar Survivor of Maoist China from Speaking

Below is my column on Fox.com on the recent decision of students at Whitworth University to bar a speech from a survivor of Maoist China. It was an ironic but all-too-familiar scene in higher education today.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The American Cultural Revolution: Whitworth Students Bar Survivor of Maoist China from Speaking” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Religion, Supreme Court

Seventh Circuit Upholds Termination of High School Teacher Who Objected to Pronoun Policy

There is an important ruling this month out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which ruled against former high school music teacher John Kluge for refusing to comply with the school’s pronoun policy for religious reasons. What is most curious about the ruling is the timing. The Seventh Circuit opinion from April 7th is particularly interesting given the oral argument in the Supreme Court in Groff v. DeJoy only 11 days after the appellate ruling. Groff could gut the underlying standard used by the Seventh Circuit in its ruling for the school district. The opinion also puts the appellate court in conflict with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in its recent Meriweather decision. Continue reading “Seventh Circuit Upholds Termination of High School Teacher Who Objected to Pronoun Policy” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Kent State Petition Seeks to Punish Students for Painting “What is a Woman?” on Free Speech Rock
Like many schools, Kent State University has a free speech rock that is a symbol of the right to free expression at that institution. However, some at the school appear to have a narrow view of what constitutes free speech after College Republicans painted “What Is a Woman?” on the rock. The question appears to be a reference to  a documentary by conservative commentator Matt Walsh. The rock painting led to a petition declaring that “The Kent State College Republicans must be held accountable for their actions.”

Continue reading “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Kent State Petition Seeks to Punish Students for Painting “What is a Woman?” on Free Speech Rock” →

Academia, Politics, Society

Can You Guess? Professor Asks Students What Group is Known for “Violence, Deceit, Irresponsibility, and a Lack of Remorse”
We recently discussed how Wake Forest Psychology Professor S. Mason Garrison described conservatives as “guilty, anxious, and unable to handle stress well as children.” It was indicative of the overt hostility often encountered by Republicans and conservatives on our campuses today. Now, another psychology professor is under fire for a quiz that matter-of-factly explained that white men are characterized as a group for their abuse of others and lack of remorse for their violence and deceit. Like Professor Garrison, the resulting outcry reportedly led Professor Kirsten Bradbury to rescind the quiz. However, the incident reflects both the orthodoxy and hostility that now characterizes higher education. It also follows a familiar pattern when academics are called to account for such biased attacks.
Academia, Free Speech, Media, Politics

Is Free Speech Killing Us? FDA Commissioner Declares “Misinformation” a Medical Risk

Last year, we discussed the declaration of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that censorship was needed to combat what he called the “infodemic.” It was a jarring position given the censorship of experts and scientists who have now been vindicated in raising questions over mask protection to natural immunities to school closings to the origins of Covid 19. Nevertheless, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf added his own voice to call for censorship. Califf declared that life expectancy rates are being suppressed due to “misinformation.” His call for action against ill-defined “disinformation” or “misinformation” is being echoed throughout the Biden Administration. Continue reading “Is Free Speech Killing Us? FDA Commissioner Declares “Misinformation” a Medical Risk” →

Academia, Free Speech

“Their Smug Civility was Infuriating”: Yale Editorial Denounces the Politeness of Pro-Life Students; Questions Right to Speak on Campus

On occasion, we will discuss student editorials as an insight into the view of free speech on our campuses. This week, one such editorial has attracted attention from Yale Daily News due to its chilling statements about free speech. The editorial by Hyerim Bianca Nam is striking in its rejection of the core values of free speech and its expression of anger over the civility and logical arguments of pro-life students.
Academia, Politics

Wake Forest Professor Under Fire for Describing Conservatives as “Guilty, Anxious, and Unable to Handle Stress Well as Children”

The student-run independent The Wake Report has published a story that has gone national about a psychology professor who taught her students that conservatives are “guilty, anxious, and unable to handle stress well as children.” Conversely, liberals are generally “resourceful, independent, self-reliant, and confident as children.” Assistant professor S. Mason Garrison expressed surprise that students “interpreted” the description as “negative” and caused “discomfort.” Apparently, many would take being called “guilty” and “unable to handle stress” as comforting and positive.

Continue reading “Wake Forest Professor Under Fire for Describing Conservatives as “Guilty, Anxious, and Unable to Handle Stress Well as Children”” →

Academia, Free Speech, Religion

Four Students Suspended After a Quran is Slightly Damaged by Accident

 

A West Yorkshire school in England is at the center of a controversy after four students were suspended for mishandling a Quran, which belonged to one of the students. The book was “slightly damaged” with “no malicious intent.” However, the school contacted the police, the Islamic Center, and others to address the matter. Reportedly based on an unintentional act, the punishment raises free speech concerns.

Continue reading “Four Students Suspended After a Quran is Slightly Damaged by Accident” →

Academia, Free Speech

SFSU Responds to Alleged Assault on Riley Gaines . . . By Praising the Protesters

We previously discussed the disgraceful attack on former swimmer Riley Gaines who was reportedly assaulted when she tried to speak about her views on transgender issues at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Gaines had to be removed to a locked room for hours by police for her own protection. It is now clear why students believed that they had license to engage in such disruptions. SFSU has issued a statement that was conspicuous in its failure to condemn the mob or promise accountability for these actions. Continue reading “SFSU Responds to Alleged Assault on Riley Gaines . . . By Praising the Protesters” →

Academia, Free Speech

San Francisco State University Investigates Professor for Showing Image of the Prophet Muhammad in a Class on Islamic History

San Francisco State University this week is much in the news over free speech and academic freedom — for all the wrong reasons. We just discussed how former swimmer Riley Gaines was allegedly assaulted and had to be locked away in a room for her own protection after trying to speak on transgender issues at the school. Now, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has issued a letter to San Francisco State University on a new and troubling controversy over academic freedom. The university opened an investigation into Maziar Behrooz, an associate professor of history, reportedly due to his showing a drawing of the Prophet Muhammad. Continue reading “San Francisco State University Investigates Professor for Showing Image of the Prophet Muhammad in a Class on Islamic History” →

Academia, Free Speech

Former Swimmer Riley Gaines Allegedly Assaulted During Event at San Francisco State University

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was reportedly assaulted during an attempt to speak at San Francisco State University. The attack followed another successful effort to shout down a speaker with opposing views on a campus. Gaines was rushed from the event and kept in a secure room for nearly three hours, according to her account on Twitter. Continue reading “Former Swimmer Riley Gaines Allegedly Assaulted During Event at San Francisco State University” →

Academia, Columns, Free Speech

Defamed by ChatGPT: My Own Bizarre Experience with Artificiality of “Artificial Intelligence”

Yesterday, President Joe Biden declared that “it remains to be seen” whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is “dangerous.” I would beg to differ. I have been writing about the threat of AI to free speech. Then recently I learned that ChatGPT falsely reported on a claim of sexual harassment that was never made against me on a trip that never occurred while I was on a faculty where I never taught. ChapGPT relied on a cited Post article that was never written and quotes a statement that was never made by the newspaper. When the Washington Post investigated the false story, it learned that another AI program “Microsoft’s Bing, which is powered by GPT-4, repeated the false claim about Turley.” It appears that I have now been adjudicated by an AI jury on something that never occurred.

When contacted by the Post, “Katy Asher, Senior Communications Director at Microsoft, said the company is taking steps to ensure search results are safe and accurate.” That is it and that is the problem. You can be defamed by AI and these companies merely shrug that they try to be accurate. In the meantime, their false accounts metastasize across the Internet. By the time you learn of a false story, the trail is often cold on its origins with an AI system. You are left with no clear avenue or author in seeking redress. You are left with the same question of Reagan’s Labor Secretary, Ray Donovan, who asked “Where do I go to get my reputation back?”

Here is my column in USA Today:

Continue reading “Defamed by ChatGPT: My Own Bizarre Experience with Artificiality of “Artificial Intelligence”” →

Academia, Events

Turley to Speak on Supreme Court at Brazosport College

Today I will be speaking at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas. I have previously spoken at the college which was selected as one of the top ten community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute. The Clute and Lake Jackson areas are also the location of the Ron Paul Institute. I will be speaking on “The Supreme Court and Society: A review of current and upcoming Supreme Court cases.” Continue reading “Turley to Speak on Supreme Court at Brazosport College” →