Latvia Expels Top North Korea Scholar Before Lecture
#AcademicFreedom #RussiaLatviaTensionsRussian scholar Andrei Lankov was detained in Latvia minutes before a North Korea lecture and expelled. He believes his blacklisting stems from his objective writing style on the reclusive state, which Latvian authorities deem problematic. read more
Purdue Accused of Secret Ban on Chinese Students
#AcademicFreedom #USChinaRelationsPurdue University faces allegations of an unofficial policy automatically rejecting students from China and other nations, despite official denials. This follows U.S. legislative pressure, with students reporting rescinded offers, highlighting tensions between national security and academic values. read more
Professor Sues Texas A&M Over Firing for Gender Lesson
#AcademicFreedom #FirstAmendmentA Texas A&M professor fired after a leaked recording of her gender identity lesson is suing the university. She claims her First Amendment rights were violated due to political pressure from state officials, including Governor Greg Abbott. read more
"Reforming University Governance: Protecting Academic Freedom and Values"
#UniversityGovernance #AcademicFreedomAmerican universities are facing governance challenges as trustees fail to uphold academic freedom and shared governance. The boards, often made up of business and political figures, lack academic experience. Urgent reform is needed to include academics and ensure university values. read more
"Chinese Language Professor Fired Over 'Countries of Concern' Law"
#NewCollegeofFlorida #academicfreedomNew College of Florida fires Chinese professor under Florida law targeting "countries of concern", citing state law SB 846. Professor Kevin Wang, seeking asylum, was terminated without cause. The law, targeting China and others, restricts foreign collaborations. read more
Is Columbia University Still Deserving of Its Title?
#ColumbiaUniversity #academicfreedomColumbia University's actions regarding protests and faculty members have led to questions about its status as a true educational institution in the opinion of Rashid Khalidi. The university's governance, history of suppression, and potential censorship are highlighted. read more
"University Presidents Urged to Speak Out Against Trump's Attacks"
#AcademicFreedom #UniversityLeadersUniversity leaders are hesitant to condemn Trump's attacks on Columbia University, fearing funding cuts. Five presidents have spoken out, but most stay silent. Trump's blatant intervention threatens academic freedom, with cowardice weakening universities. Collective courage is essential to combat government control over free speech. read more
Trump Administration's Pressure on Universities Stokes Debate on Academic Freedom
#UniversityPressure #AcademicFreedomStudents stage walk-out protest at Columbia University in NYC for Mahmoud Khalil's release. Trump administration pressures universities with threats of investigations and fund cuts. Columbia is facing demands to discipline students, reform policies, sparking minimal pushback. read more
Protests in NY over Palestinian activist’s arrest highlight free speech crackdown
#Palestine #AcademicFreedomProtesters in New York demonstrate against Mahmoud Khalil's arrest, a Columbia University protest leader against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Sandy Tolan criticizes Trump's attacks on free speech at universities, highlighting the need to resist suppression and defend Palestinian rights. read more
French Scientist Denied Entry to US Over Anti-Trump Messages
#France #academicfreedomFrench scientist traveling to a conference near Houston was denied US entry after phone messages critical of the Trump administration were found. France's research minister condemned the incident and defended academic freedom. The incident occurred on 9 March, with US authorities accusing the scientist of hateful messages. read more
"Securing Academic Freedom: Defending Universities Against Targeted Government Attacks"
#AcademicFreedom #TruthSeekingMissionIn light of threats from the Trump administration, US universities must defend their truth-seeking and educational missions, not succumbing to intimidation. A collective response is needed to protect academic freedom and professional standards. read more
Governor intervenes to remove Palestinian studies job posting at Hunter
#AcademicFreedom #PalestinianStudiesNew York Governor directs removal of job listing for a Palestinian studies teaching position, citing concerns over potential promotion of "antisemitic theories." The decision has sparked debate on academic freedom and free speech. read more
#Censorship #AcademicFreedom
Bad-faith actors exploit procedural arguments to curb academic freedom and silence contentious speech. Harvard and Columbia law reviews censored Palestinian human rights lawyer Rabea Eghbariah’s work, sparking backlash from student editors fighting for editorial independence. read more
#BoycottIsrael #AcademicFreedom
Amidst the ongoing war, pressure to boycott Israeli universities intensifies, as scholars debate its fairness. Ilan Pappé argues for the boycott, citing Israeli academia's complicity, while Flora Cassen opposes, emphasizing the importance of fostering diverse academic spaces to foster peace. read more
#AcademicFreedom #IsraelPalestineRelations
Ilan Pappé, an Israeli historian and critic of Zionism, was detained at a US airport and questioned for two hours about his views on Israel and Hamas. This incident sheds light on the restrictions faced by academics discussing Israel and Palestine. read more
#AcademicFreedom #AntisemitismHearing
A congressional hearing on antisemitism at Columbia University raised concerns as Republicans used charges of antisemitism to push an illiberal agenda, attacking academic freedom. The hearing included controversial figures, highlighting the dangers of weaponizing antisemitism. read more