Tag: academic freedom
What Jordan Peterson’s failed court appeal says about freedom of expression in Canada
August 31, 2023 | Post
In a recent legal development that has ignited debates about the intersection of freedom of expression and professional obligations, former University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson’s court appeal has been denied. What does this development tell us about freedom of expression in Canada?
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law is about state censorship, not parental rights
March 31, 2022 | Post
Proponents of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill claim it’s about protecting students and families, yet it’s merely a pretext for limiting freedom.
In praise of safe spaces on campus
March 9, 2017 | Post
I want to come out in favor of safe spaces. Not everywhere, or for all purposes, but in general I think there should be a strong presumption in favor of limited and exclusive safe spaces for any group that wants to establish one. Of course, the group would need to have the ability and legal […]
College Professor Writes “Sexual Paranoia” Essay, Is Put Under Title IX Investigation
August 6, 2016 | Post
Northwestern University—like many universities around the country—recently banned consensual relations between faculty and students. In response to this decision, Northwestern Professor Laura Kipnis wrote an ironic essay highlighting all the professors married to former students on the campus and at other campuses around the country. In the Learn Liberty video below, Professor Kipnis discusses the […]
The Danger of Safe Spaces
May 11, 2016 | Post
In a recent commencement address at the University of Michigan, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was booed after criticizing campus safe spaces. As Yahoo News reported: The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations — not run away from them,” Bloomberg told the school’s graduating class. “One […]
Universities Insist on Genetic Diversity While Ignoring Diversity of Viewpoints
April 25, 2016 | Post
For over 40 years, American universities have been working to increase the diversity of their faculties. Now, in response to last fall’s wave of protests from student groups representing people of color, women, and LGBT individuals, many universities are redoubling their efforts in this regard. For example, Yale’s response to the student protests includes a […]
Freedom of Speech on Campus: "All Lives Matter" vs. "Black Lives Matter"
April 14, 2016 | Post
A recent incident at American University’s School of Law highlights just how divisive the issue of campus speech has become. As the Washington Post reported, it began with a note: Earlier this month, someone left a hand-written flier on the door of a faculty member’s office at American University’s Washington College of Law that read, […]
New Hampshire Legislators Join the Free Speech Movement
December 23, 2015 | Post
While students are enjoying their break from classes, New Hampshire legislators are standing up for their free speech rights on campus. A pair of state representatives recently introduced two bills to protect academic freedom at New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities. They’re not alone: Learn Liberty has launched a new website encouraging students to #SpeakFreely […]
Open Inquiry Is Integral to the University Experience
October 15, 2015 | Post
Increasingly, the expectation of rigorous debate and discussion on controversial topics has diminished on college campuses across the nation. Students are now more content or even encouraged to coast through higher education without having to encounter beliefs or opinions that offend their preconceived notions about the world. Students are treating the college experience as less […]