“Thucydides” on Higher-Ed Funding

This “over the transom” piece is from a colleague who has chosen the pseudonym “Thucydides.” It owes a considerable debt—is in many respects an homage–to the legendary Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko. _________________________ Moose McGillicuddy wiped down the bar at his tavern. Moose’s was a typical downtown Ohio bar. Politicians, college students, construction workers, and…

John McAdams Punished With Longer Suspension, Forced Apology

Marquette University yesterday announced the punishment of John McAdams for his crime of publicly criticizing a graduate student teacher’s pedagogy on his blog: He will be suspended (and banned) from campus until January 2017 (without pay but with benefits), and apparently will be forced to apologize for his actions as a condition of reinstatement. According to…

CFA-CSU Fact-Finder Report to be Released on Monday

The following message was sent today by the California Faculty Association (CFA) to faculty in the California State University (CSU) system: March 24, 2016 Dear Colleague, The fact-finding report and recommendations regarding our bargaining with the CSU management will be made public on Monday, March 28.  On that day, we will share the contents of…

Against Grants

BY AARON BARLOW A decade or so ago, I applied for a travel grant to examine papers of Carlos Salzedo, a twentieth-century French/American harpist. The request was turned down, the result of a scathing evaluation by someone who was incensed that I had not mentioned the other important French/American harpist of the time, Marcel Grandjany.…

UC Regents Make a Muddle of Academic Freedom

Here is another excellent perspective on the University of California Board of Regents consideration of a proposed “intolerance policy” by UCLA History Professor Michael Meranze, posted originally on his Remaking the University blog.  This Wednesday the Regents Committee on Educational Policy will be taking up the Final Report of the Regents Working Group on Principles…