Eisgruber defends academic freedom after congressman calls for book to be removed

September 14, 2023 1 min read

1 Comment

Bridget O'Neill
Daily Princetonian

Excerpt: University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 responded to criticism of the inclusion of a controversial book on a course syllabus on Wednesday after Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) sent a public letter urging the book be removed. Eisgruber defended academic freedom and made the case that it could coexist with a welcoming environment for students.

Gottheimer is the latest public figure to criticize the book, titled “The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Disability” which is on the syllabus for NES 301: The Healing Humanities — Decolonizing Trauma Studies from the Global South taught by Professor Satyel Larson.

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1 Response

Dave Street
Dave Street

October 12, 2023

The problem with this book is that is based upon lies.
It is propaganda, not an academic treatise.
I favor free speech.
But we don’t have a right to scream fire (if false) in a crowded theatre.
And teaching propaganda, not truth or an attempt at truth is not free speech, it is foolishness and in this case hateful.
I would also note that Princeton was a historical bastion of anti-Semitism and should not return to its roots in this regard.

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