Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review, March 19-25

Scholars at Risk would like to draw attention to the situation surrounding Professor William Cronon of University of Wisconsin at Madison. According to media reports, the university was approached by the Republican Party of Wisconsin with a request, under Wisconsin’s open-records law, for Prof. Cronon’s e-mail records. The request was received just days after Prof. Cronon published a blog post regarding legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers. Please review the following two pieces—one featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, and one written by Prof. Cronon on his blog—for additional information on this case.

Wisconsin GOP Seeks E-Mails of a Madison Professor Who Criticized the Governor
A Tactic I Hope Republicans Will Rethink: Using the Open Records Law to Intimidate Critics
Academic Freedom Media Review
March 19 – 25, 2011
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Continue reading

Academic Freedom Media Review, February 12-18, 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.
AAUP Proposes New Protections for Politically Controversial Academics
Peter Schmidt, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/18
Allow extremist speech in universities, report advises
Jeevan Vasagar, The Guardian, 2/18
Protests Over Anti-Union Moves in Wisconsin and Ohio
Inside Higher Ed, 2/18
In Puerto Rico, Protests End Short Peace at University
Tamar Lewin, The New York Times, 2/17
Continue reading

Academic Freedom Media Review, February 5 – 11, 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 here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Universities must safeguard intellectual vitality
Andreas Hess, Irish Times, 2/10
Presidential duress: fears for Belarusian academic freedom
Colin Graham, Times Higher Education, 2/10
Travel Ban Extends to Family
Mihray Abdilim and Joshua Lipes, Radio Free Asia, 2/10
Faculty Group at U. of Puerto Rico Joins Students on Strike
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/10
The Beck-Piven Controversy
Peter Wood, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/10
Continue reading