Commentary: The Law and Culture of Academic Freedom

September 26, 2024 1 min read

John O. McGinnis
Law and Liberty

Excerpt: The past year has exposed deep-rooted problems on American college campuses, revealing just how political pressure distorts academic ideals. After Hamas’s brutal massacre of civilians and Israel’s forceful response, waves of pro-Palestine protests erupted, soon transforming into encampments that in some cases menaced Jewish students.

As we seek to understand the correct application of these principles to campus life, we are fortunate that David Rabban has just written Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to Free Speech. It is the most thoughtful legal discussion of academic freedom ever published.

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Commentary: Leading a university is set to become even more difficult

January 11, 2025 1 min read

John Aubrey Douglass
University World News

Excerpt: Over the past five years or so, there has been a significant increase in faculty votes of no confidence in their university and college presidents in the United States. These votes are an indicator of an evolving and increasingly challenging environment for university and college leadership, as well as evidence of a decline in shared governance – an environment that will likely become even more complex with Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

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Commentary: Statement by Professor Katherine Franke

January 10, 2025 1 min read

Katherine Franke
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Excerpt: For the last year and a half, as students at Columbia University and across the globe have protested against the Israeli government’s genocidal assault on Palestinians after the October 2023 attacks, a response that has resulted in horrendous devastation in Gaza, I have ardently defended students’ right to peaceful protest on our campus and across the country.  I truly believed that student engagement with the rights and dignity of Palestinians continued a celebrated tradition at Columbia University of student protest.

Instead, the University has allowed its own disciplinary process to be weaponized against members of our community, including myself. I have been targeted for my support of pro-Palestinian protesters – by the president of Columbia University, by several colleagues, by university trustees, and by outside actors.

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Columbia Professor Says She Was Pushed to Retire Because of Her Activism

January 10, 2025 1 min read

Stephanie Saul
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Excerpt: Columbia University and one of its longtime law professors, Katherine Franke, have severed ties after an investigation stemming from her advocacy on behalf of pro-Palestinian students.

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