Category: Academia

Academia

The Turley-Wolfson Debate on Institutional Neutrality in Higher Education

I just returned from the University of Wyoming, where I debated the President of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Todd Wolfson over the need for colleges and universities to maintain institutional neutrality. The debate was organized by the Steamboat Institute and was live-streamed. Given the interest in the debate and the polling results below, I am hopeful that we can prevail in this existential battle for higher education. Steamboat has now posted the debate in case you would like to hear the arguments on both sides of this issue.

Continue reading “The Turley-Wolfson Debate on Institutional Neutrality in Higher Education” →

Academia, Politics, Society

Chicago Teachers Seek Billions in Special Session for “What We Are Owed”

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has long been one of the most radical labor organizations in the country from its insistence on teachers being subsidized in political protests to members praising the former Communist regime in Venezuela. Now, with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the CTU is demanding yet another massive public infusion of money despite the dismal performance of its members in actually improving scores for Chicago children. They are calling for a special session and billions in more funding. Continue reading “Chicago Teachers Seek Billions in Special Session for “What We Are Owed”” →

Academia, Free Speech

Psychology Journal Under Fire for Retracting Publication Challenging Claims of Racism

We have previously discussed academic journals canceling publications that challenge the orthodox views of mainstream scholars. The latest such example can be found in the Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, which pulled the 2025 article of Arna Mitchell who questioned claims that psychology as a field is a tool of “white power.” The editors reportedly declared that such conclusions are “inconsistent” with the publication’s “values.” Continue reading “Psychology Journal Under Fire for Retracting Publication Challenging Claims of Racism” →

Academia, Politics

The ABCs of Educational Success: Arkansas Shows Continued Testing Improvements From Reforms

For years, I have been writing about the decline of public education in the United States. The political power of teachers’ unions led to bloated budgets as schools pursued ideological agendas over educational advancements. Despite massive budgets, scores of students in major cities have continued to plummet or remain at the same dismal levels. Now, Arkansas has shown what is possible if officials put education first. Scores in the state have soared after the implementation of reforms that many of us have advocated for years. It also shows that state governments, not the federal government, are critical to reversing our slide in educational performance as the Administration moves toward eliminating the Department of Education.

Continue reading “The ABCs of Educational Success: Arkansas Shows Continued Testing Improvements From Reforms” →

Academia, Politics

Tossed or Chopped? Hofstra Professor Faces Complaint Over Calling Colleague’s Remarks “Word Salad”

Calling Kamala Harris. Both Democrats and Republicans have often criticized the former Vice President for her propensity to create “word salad” responses to questions. Hofstra University Professor Richard Himelfarb is now under investigation for leveling the same criticism against a colleague’s remarks in a faculty meeting. After Himelfarb used the common term to criticize a colleague, Professor Santiago Slabodsky, chair of the Jewish studies program, he was hit with a formal complaint. Slabodsky has refused to drop his complaint even after Himelfarb apologized, saying that the comment discriminated against his accent, native language, and Latino identity in violation of Title VII.

In culinary terms, the question is now whether the complaint will be tossed or Himelfarb chopped over a simple “word salad” reference.

Continue reading “Tossed or Chopped? Hofstra Professor Faces Complaint Over Calling Colleague’s Remarks “Word Salad”” →

Academia, Politics

“Knock Them Out”: AAUP and Mellon Foundation Accused of Targeting Civics Centers

There is an alarming media report about an effort by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to target civics programs with the help of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It is only the latest accusation of political bias at the AAUP under President Todd Wolfson. I will be debating Dr. Wolfson on the value of institutional neutrality on June 23. Continue reading ““Knock Them Out”: AAUP and Mellon Foundation Accused of Targeting Civics Centers” →

Academia, Constitutional Law

Professors Behind the California Wealth Tax Threaten Possible Legal Action Against Critic

There is an interesting controversy brewing in California after four California university professors threatened a political candidate, Richard Lucas, for criticizing them for their roles in the “Billionaire Tax” and sent him a “cease and desist” letter. David Gamage from the University of Missouri, Brian Galle and Emmanuel Saez from UC Berkeley, and Darien Shanske from UC Davis claimed that the public criticism violated anti-doxxing laws by sharing contact information. They are clearly wrong. One of the aggrieved professors, Brian Galle, teaches at Berkeley Law School called Lucas “a clown,” but insisted that sharing public information is unlawful.

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Academia, Free Speech, Politics

Facing the Big Zero: The University of Oregon Grapples With a Budget Crisis After Years of Woke Excess

It appears that being unrelentingly woke means that you need fewer dormitories. The University of Oregon is facing a major budget crisis and will cut $65 million from its budget and close dorms due to low enrollment. That growing crisis, however, did not stop Oregon from burning almost a million dollars fighting against free speech. It also did not induce its faculty to offer greater intellectual diversity and tolerance to prospective students. Oregon is a cautionary tale for a generation of academic social warriors, but also an opportunity for those who want to restore balance in higher education. Continue reading “Facing the Big Zero: The University of Oregon Grapples With a Budget Crisis After Years of Woke Excess” →

Academia, Politics

Doing the Math: UC Faculty Call for the Return to Standardized Testing After Shocking Decline in Skills

Years ago, I wrote a column denouncing the decision of the University of California system to drop standardized testing in the cause of greater racial diversity. Now, hundreds of UC mathematics faculty have called for a return to such testing after reports showing a thirtyfold increase in students with math skills below high school level. Continue reading “Doing the Math: UC Faculty Call for the Return to Standardized Testing After Shocking Decline in Skills” →

Academia

Cornell Faculty Group Condemns University President Who Was Surrounded by Protesters in Car

We previously discussed the recent incident involving President Michael Kotlikoff, who was accused of hitting a protester while trying to leave a parking lot after an event on the Israeli-Palestinian issues. He was cleared by a university investigation, but the Cornell Chapter of the American Association of University Professors has condemned Kortikoff, who was merely trying to evade protesters who surrounded his car.

Continue reading “Cornell Faculty Group Condemns University President Who Was Surrounded by Protesters in Car” →

Academia, Free Speech, International

Ressa at Dartmouth : Anti-Free Speech Figure Calls the State of Free Speech in the U.S. “Horrific”

In the global anti-free speech movement, Maria Ressa stands apart. The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Columbia professor has used her celebrated position to call for censorship in the name of tolerance and diversity. She is showered with accolades as she calls for curtailing speech with a highly sophisticated, though at times Orwellian, pitch. In the cause of tolerance, she calls for viewpoint intolerance, particularly in the regulation of speech on the Internet.

That was evident this week as she spoke at Dartmouth’s Division of Institutional Diversity and Equity Social Justice Awards. The most insidious aspect of this campaign is how academic and other groups regularly portray Ressa as a free speech advocate.

Continue reading “Ressa at Dartmouth : Anti-Free Speech Figure Calls the State of Free Speech in the U.S. “Horrific”” →

Academia, Columns

“He was right then. He is right now”: Hakeem Jeffries’ Brother Calls on Citizens to Emulate John Brown

 

This week, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, an Ohio State University history professor and the brother of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, joined the mantra of many on the left for citizens to rise up and fight the system “by any means necessary.” However, Jeffries added a menacing element in calling for citizens to emulate John Brown, who murdered white farmers who supported slavery.  He is not the first academic to use Brown as a model for political action today. Continue reading ““He was right then. He is right now”: Hakeem Jeffries’ Brother Calls on Citizens to Emulate John Brown” →

Academia, International, Politics

Law Professor Calls for Extension of Copyright Laws to Claims of Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation and microaggressions are common complaints on campuses across the country, including most recently an allegation of cultural appropriation raised after a drum line formed at an event at UC Davis. Now, Miami law professor J. Janewa Osei-Tutu has suggested codifying cultural appropriation claims as copyright violations. It is the type of incredible proposal that is eagerly embraced inside, and largely ignored outside, of higher education.

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Academia

“Teach Through the Lens of Enslavement and Racism”: Penn State’s Anti-Racism Course Draws Criticism

Penn State has been under scrutiny over its internal ‘Strategic Plan Update’ which contains sweeping anti-racism agendas, including a commitment to “recruit, retain, teach and research according to antiracist principles’ and adopt an ‘antiracist critical pedagogy.”  The plan to expand employment opportunities for underrepresented candidates has prompted objections over its possible unconstitutionality in light of Supreme Court precedent. However, a tape is now circulating that raises concerns about the use of its mandatory REPL course, which stands for “Race and the Equal Protection of the Laws.” Continue reading ““Teach Through the Lens of Enslavement and Racism”: Penn State’s Anti-Racism Course Draws Criticism” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Justice

Yale Medical School Accused of Racial Discrimination in Admissions

Yesterday, we discussed how UCLA medical school has been accused of racial discrimination in admissions. Now Yale School of Medicine has also been accused of “intentionally select[ing] applicants based on their race” in knowing circumvention of Supreme Court precedent. Continue reading “Yale Medical School Accused of Racial Discrimination in Admissions” →