Academic Freedom Media Review – April 28-May 4, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
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Chinese Activist Says He Will Study at NYU
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/4
CERN Scientist Sentenced to 5 Years in French Terrorism Case
Scott Sayare, The New York Times, 5/4
Movement to Protest Israel’s Policies Triggers Bitter Fights Over U.S. Scholars’ Speech
Peter Schmidt, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/4
Independent UN experts urge Iran to ensure protection for rights defenders
UN News Centre, 5/4 Continue reading

Academic Freedom Media Review – April 21-27, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Blind Activist Escapes House Arrest in China
Andrew Jacobs & Jonathan Ansfield, The New York Times, 4/27
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace of Bahrain
Scholars at Risk, 4/27
Faculty Members Urge Notre Dame to Distance Itself from Bishop’s Controversial Remarks
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/26
Dissident Chinese Writer Yu Jie addresses hidden agenda of Confucius Institutes
Keaton Hoffman, Vox Populi, 4/24
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review April 14-20, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
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Tenured Professor Is Placed on Leave After Showing a Film About Pornography
Robin Wilson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/20
Syrian uprising takes toll on scientific community
Zeki Al Droubi, Nature, 4/19
AAUP Election Results Reflect Backlash Against Recent Leadership Decisions
Peter Schmidt, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/19
“None of Our Rights Have Been Observed,” Says Abdolfattah Soltani’s Wife
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 4/19
Belarus Banned from Bologna Process for Three Years /
Telegraf.by, 4/19
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review-April 7-13, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available at here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Jadavpur University professor arrested over anti-Mamata cartoons
The Times of India, 4/13
Finally on solid ground (in Norwegian – Google translation)
Aksel Kjaer Vidnes, Forskerforum, 4/13
Colombia all ears after students vote with their feet
Graham Jarvis, Times Higher Education, 4/12
Tenuous Tenure
Kaustuv Basu, Inside Higher Ed, 4/12
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The Diva and the Army Private

To the author of the following Facebook post:

Whitney Houston had a drug problem, went to rehab, died in her bathtub and got recognized on the news and internet. NJ governor ordered the flags half mast on Saturday as a tribute to Whitney. 24 year old Army Pfc. Cesar Cortez, assigned to 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas, died the exact same day serving during Operation Enduring Freedom and I, personally, haven’t heard his name until now. If you believe that the people who are dying daily for your and my freedom are the true American heroes and deserve more respect than any celebrity, then copy and post.

I am declining to repost this on my Facebook page.  It is a mean and faulty argument that unnecessarily brings two very different issues into competition.  But before I explain that, let me point out that it makes an absolute and prejudicial statement that you cannot possibly know is true, and that I wouldn’t repost without changing that anyway.  It’s the concluding statement that’s the problem.  As a teacher of writing I tell my students to try and avoid absolute statements unless they are sure they are true.

An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Pfc. Cesar Cortez Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Cortez, 24, of Oceanside, Calif. , died Feb. 11, 2012 in Bahrain.


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Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review, October 28-November 4, 2011

The media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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TURKEY 11/3/11: Ragip Zarakolu releases public letter from prison
PEN, 11/3
Russian Terror Law Has Unlikely Targets
Sophia Kishkovksy, The New York Times, 11/3
Climate change scientist Michael Mann fends off sceptic group’s raid on emails
Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, 11/2
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Academic Freedom Media Review-October 8 – 14, 2011

Here, with my apologies, is a delayed reposting of the Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review.  It is published every Friday, this one on Friday, October 14.  

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available online. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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IRAQ: Sweeping higher education reforms planned
Wagdy Sawahel, University World News

EGYPT: Elections reinstate some university leaders
Ashraf Khaled, University World News

Myanmar prisoner amnesty prompts call for all political detainees to be freed, not just 10 pct
Associated Press, Washington Post, 10/13

Pressure Builds Over Chen
Grace Kei Lai-see, Radio Free Asia, 10/13

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Academic Freedom Media Review – August 13 -19 2011

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Professor’s Memo Blasting Dept. Chair Was Protected Speech, California Court Holds /
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/18
Italian Embassy Revokes Belarusian University Rector’s Visa
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 8/18
The Kampala declaration on intellectual freedom
Ndala Machika, The Nation, 8/17
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Academic Freedom Media Review-June 11-17, 2011

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available at http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Events-News/Academic-Freedom-News.php. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Possible Setback for Program Integrity Rules
Libby A. Nelson, Inside Higher Ed, 6/16
When Presidents Exit the Public Square
Jeffrey Selingo, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6/16
Student Freedom of Speech and Dissent Under Siege: The Irvine 11
John L. Esposito, The Huffington Post, 6/16
News in Brief
Times Higher Education, 6/16
UAE: End Trial of Democracy Petitioners
Human Rights Watch, 6/15
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, May 28-June, 2011

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Iraq: Protest Organizers Beaten, Detained
Human Rights Watch, 6/2
Sri Lanka’s army: In bigger barracks
The Economist, 6/2
Charge Against Professor Raises Questions About Academic Freedom in Thailand
Newley Purnell, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6/1
Bahrain’s ‘progressive’ influence
Ali M. Latifi, Al Jazeera, 6/1
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