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…
BY HANK REICHMAN Today, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the great punk band Green Day released an official music video of their song, “We Live in Troubled Times,” from their current album, Revolution Radio. “Today we celebrate love and compassion more than ever,” lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong said in a statement that…
BY HANK REICHMAN On this, perhaps the most meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial holiday ever, it is appropriate to turn to King’s words for inspiration. Frequently cited, of course, is his last “I have seen the mountaintop” speech, delivered in Memphis just before his assassination. Less frequently quoted is his remarkable speech at the…
BY HANK REICHMAN Even as legislators in Iowa and Missouri launched what the AAUP has called “A Concerted Attack on Academic Freedom” by seeking to eliminate tenure at public colleges and universities in those states, another troubling bill was introduced the same day in Arizona. Here is the relevant proposal (emphases added): Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter…
BY HANK REICHMAN San Francisco City College’s (CCSF) five-year battle against a rogue accrediting agency is over and the college has won. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) informed school administrators yesterday that CCSF’s latest application for accreditation had been approved for a standard seven-year period. “All of us at the college…
POSTED BY HANK REICHMAN The following statement was issued today by the AAUP: Legislators in Missouri and Iowa have introduced legislation that would eliminate tenure for faculty at public institutions in these states. In Missouri, the awarding of tenure would be outlawed for all faculty hired after 2017. In Iowa, tenure would be eliminated even…