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Academic Freedom Conference at Stanford U. Described as ‘Divisive’

Academic Freedom Conference at Stanford U. Described as ‘Divisive’

“I can’t be seen on the program with right-wing nutjobs”

When did the concept of freedom become controversial? I really don’t get it.

Inside Higher Ed reports:

Divisive Academic Freedom Conference Proceeds

A conference on academic freedom proceeded Friday and Saturday under the auspices of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, despite faculty and student calls for Stanford to distance itself from the event platforming such divisive figures as Amy Wax and Jordan Peterson (and which was otherwise a who’s who of self-proclaimed canceled academics: asked at one point to raise their hands if they’d been canceled, a majority of participants did so).

Co-organizer John Cochrane, economist and Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, in his opening remarks said that the event’s critics had failed and that “Stanford’s leaders have supported us, for which we are grateful, so we are still here.” At the same time, he said, “untenured faculty figured out they should not be seen here. Several more deregistered from the conference after we decided to stream the proceedings, citing fear of repercussions.”

“One prominent Stanford professor, active in university academic freedom issues, spoke for many, telling us, ‘I can’t be seen on the program with right-wing nutjobs like …’ and named a few of our speakers,” Cochrane added. “At an academic freedom conference. There’s half the problem in a nutshell.”

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Comments

“When did the concept of freedom become controversial? I really don’t get it.”

Have you ever heard of the Civil War?

There are some people who only favor freedom for themselves. This has always been true. It will always be true.

All the cowards self-selected themselves out of the room, resulting in a productive time for all who remained.

““One prominent Stanford professor, active in university academic freedom issues, spoke for many, telling us, ‘I can’t be seen on the program with right-wing nutjobs like …’”

What a gutless slob! If this “professor” was secure in it’s arguments, it would not miss an opportunity to debate the speakers and “set the record straight.”