POSTED BY HANK REICHMAN The following statement was issued by the AAUP earlier today, February 1, 2017. The 2016 election has exacerbated a political climate that was already inimical to academic freedom. Six years ago the American Association of University Professors conveyed its concern that “the war on terror, the conflict in the Middle East,…
BY HANK REICHMAN The following is the text of a talk I delivered on January 30 at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. I want to thank the Whitman AAUP chapter, the faculty committee on academic freedom and due process, and the Whitman administration for their invitation, hospitality and support during my illuminating two-day visit.…
POSTED BY HANK REICHMAN The following is the text of an online petition initiated yesterday, which, as of this writing (10 a.m. PST January 28), had already attracted nearly 3,000 signatures, including 12 Nobel laureates, John Bates Clark medalists, members of the National Academy of Sciences and at least one MacArthur Fellow. To add your…
BY HANK REICHMAN Privatization has failed. But a tuition-free college education in California is possible. That was the message this morning at a press conference in Berkeley introducing a new policy paper demonstrating how it is entirely feasible to provide today’s students with the same accessible low-cost university experience that California successfully offered its students…
POSTED BY HANK REICHMAN Jeremy Pressman of the University of Connecticut and Erica Chenoweth of the University of Denver have been gathering crowd estimates for every single one of yesterday’s women’s marches across the nation (and also internationally) As of this posting, they conclude that between 3,664,292 (low estimates) and 4,584,210 (high estimates) people attended…
BY HANK REICHMAN On an inspiring and momentous day when “pussy” — and her millions of supporters — grabbed back, there were many creative and smart slogans to be seen. Indeed, one of the most exciting aspects of today’s women’s march, apparently everywhere, was how “bottom-up” it was — very few prefab signs; lots of…
BY HANK REICHMAN This month saw what the AAUP quickly labeled “A Concerted Attack on Academic Freedom” in Iowa and Missouri, as well as a boneheaded bill introduced in Arizona that would have banned discussions of “social justice” at the state’s public colleges and universities. But after faculty members and higher ed leaders pushed back,…
BY HARRY HELLENBRAND Harry Hellenbrand, who retired not long ago from his long-time position as provost at California State University (CSU), Northridge, remains one of the most respected and intelligent academic administrators in the CSU, who was revered — dare I say, even loved — by his faculty. Harry is also one of the most…
POSTED BY HANK REICHMAN The following document was prepared and released jointly by the AAUP and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). It may be accessed in .pdf format at https://www.aaup.org/news/faqs-faculty-after-2016-election Recently, the United States has experienced an unprecedented spike in hate crimes and threats, both physical and verbal, on college and university campuses. These…
BY HANK REICHMAN Remember that widely circulated map illustrating how in 39 of 50 states the highest-paid state employee is a public university football or basketball coach? If you don’t, here it is: According to USA Today‘s annual survey, in 2015-16 some 72 college football coaches were paid over a million dollars annually, not including…