Can’t We All Just “Belong”?
A university library I visited recently was giving away stickers that said, “You Belong Here.” Surely this affirming declaration does not mean that students can’t flunk out or get expelled,…
Which States Are Enacting the Best DEI Bans?
A wave of bills combating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) efforts on college campuses have made their way into several state legislatures this year. Bills introduced in states such as…
Have Left-Leaning Students Begun Supporting Free Speech?
According to a recent Axios poll, Republican and Democratic college students agree that campuses must broaden free speech “even if there’s some risk of violence.” Moreover, roughly 77 percent of…
The Lively Exchange of “Idea”
In 2015, a headline on the satirical news website The Onion read, “College Encourages Lively Exchange of Idea.” The subhead? “Students, Faculty Invited to Freely Express Single Viewpoint.” A few…
No Resting On Our Anti-DEI Laurels
To recite again the arguments against “diversity, equity, and inclusion” borders on condescending. The nation watched late last year as three university presidents refused to condemn quasi-genocidal chants on their…
On “Cultural Taxation”
After decades of the academy’s never-ending stream of new jargon, one can’t be blamed for ignoring another entry. But as with all the others, what begins as a crackpot idea…
George Mason’s Orwellian “Just Societies” Requirement
I recently discovered that George Mason University, where I teach, plans to adopt a “Just Societies” course requirement. “Students entering Mason in Fall 2024 or later will be required to take two Mason…
What’s UNC Teaching These Days?
If I, a graduating senior, were to give one piece of advice to an incoming UNC student, it would be to research prospective classes diligently. Search online for syllabi, survey…
Against Scholar-Activism
The rise of political orthodoxy on campus is often cited as one of the key reasons for reforming universities. But if there is a rise of orthodoxy, what does this…
Divestment Isn’t Neutral
The UNC chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) doesn’t have a great track record on free speech and civil discourse. Its members have occupied university administrative buildings, attempted…