Academic Freedom Media Review, August 14-20

Speak, by R. Baxter © All Rights Reserved


“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
— from the Friends of Voltaire
When Laura Schlessinger quit her job this week, she made claims about violations of free speech and her first amendment rights. This is absurd. Her show is on commercial radio network. The First Amendment applies to the government infringing on free speech; a commercial network needs to think about the listeners or viewers, as well as the advertisers. Laura Schlessinger is free to use the “N-word” as much as she wants in the privacy of her own home, and speeches for organizations that share her views, or just out on the street if she’s prepared to deal with the consequences.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, July 31-August 6

Academic Freedom Media Review
July 31 – August 6, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk

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 or at their site. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
U. of Miami President Halted at Israeli Airport
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8/6
Iran’s publish ‘at any cost’ mentality blamed for surge in academic fraud
Hannah Fearn, Times Higher Education, 8/5
I swear I am just doing my job
Rebecca Attwood, Times Higher Education, 8/5
Three Student Activists Appear in court
The Students Solidarity Trust, The Zimbabwean, 8/5
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Academic Freedom Media Review, July 17-23

Academic Freedom Media Review
July 17 – 23, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Note: 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 or at this link. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
UC-Irvine Urged Not to Suspend Muslim Student Union /
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7/23
BP and Academic Freedom
Cary Nelson, Inside Higher Education, 7/22
Ultimatum to Illinois Over Catholic Studies Instructor
Inside Higher Educatin, 7/21
A Tougher Conflict Policy at Harvard Medical School
Duff Wilson, The New York Times, 7/21
What if College Tenure Dies?
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Academic Freedom Review, July 3-9

Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review
July 3 – 9, 2010
News Alert: Reports suggest release from prison of Dr. Igor Sutyagin
Scholars at Risk, 7/9
ACLU accused UW police of spying on action group
Casey McNerthney, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/9
Oil-crisis research casts USF into political waters
Lindsay Peterson, Tampa Bay Online, 7/9
Adjunct Who Taught Catholicism at U. of Illinois Says Job Loss Violated Academic Freedom
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7/9
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Quick Thoughts on Academic Turnover and Institutional Development

From “Attrition Among Chief Academic Officers Threatens Strategic Plans” in the Chronicle of Higher Education, June 27, 2010:

The high turnover rate of chief academic officers is a disturbing but little-known fact in higher education today.
Frequent turnover can hurt institutional planning and a college’s capacity to achieve its strategic goals, especially during these times of economic strain and calls for change within the academy. The role of the CAO, or provost, varies based on a college’s identity and how the president defines the job. But the chief academic officer almost always plays a vital role in shaping and executing the strategic plan, leading the design and refinement of academic programs, and recruiting and retaining faculty members. It takes several years to carry out major planning initiatives associated with institutional strategy, curriculum design, and the faculty. Without stable and effective CAO leadership, making progress toward institutional goals is extremely challenging, if not impossible.”

It’s a very interesting article about the challenges of retaining people in that position and the reasons why they leave, based largely on a national study of 323 chief academic officers, conducted by Eduventures Academic Leadership Learning Collaborative. It’s an interesting read, investigating the reasons for this rapid turnover and proposing some solutions.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, June 12-18

scholarsatrisk.nyuAcademic Freedom Media Review
June 12 – 18, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Students Gain After Strike in Puerto Rico
Damien Cave, The New York Times, 6/17
Irvine Responds to Heckling Incident
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 6/15
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Academic Freedom Media Review

Academic Freedom Media Review
May 22 – 28, 2010

Below is the weekly compilation of news articles addressing issues of academic freedom that is put together by Scholars at Risk.
MLA Pushes for End to Ideological Denials of Visas
Inside Higher Ed, 5/28
Groups protest Israel denying US student’s entry
Jeff Karoun, The Associated Press, 5/27
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How I Become Captivated by Lena Horne

Lena Horne, 92, an electrifying performer who shattered racial boundaries by changing the way Hollywood presented black women and who enjoyed a six-decade singing career on stage, television and in films, died Sunday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Ms. Horne, considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, came to the attention of Hollywood in 1942. She was the first black woman to sign a meaningful long-term contract with a major studio, a contract that said she would never have to play a maid.  –via Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post.

Sesame Street, 1975


She leaves behind an amazing body of work.  No doubt you’ll hear “Stormy Weather” in a report on her career during the next few days, as it is probably her best known song.  If not, do yourself a favor and listen to it. When I think of Lena Horne, however, that song is the second thing that comes to mind.
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Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review, April 24-30

Academic Freedom Media Review
April 24 – 30, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Scholar wages FoI battle for bank collapse data
Melanie Newman, The Times Higher Education, 4/29
Studying global universities
Glenn C. Altschuler, The Boston Globe, 4/29
Pakistan university mourns murdered woman professor
BBC News, 4/28
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Global Connections and Exchange Program Combines Technology and In-Person Exchanges

Midlothian High School Exchange

Midlothian High School students planted trees in honor of their guests. | photo courtesy of Jamie Schlais Barnes

Here’s an interesting item from Midlothian Exchange, a local paper in Midlothian, in Chesterfield County, Virginia and a part of the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

Two weeks ago, three men walked into Midlothian High School looking for a better understanding of American culture. Ten days later, they left having changed their own perceptions of U.S. citizens and their students’ perceptions of Arabic culture. Their challenge and that of the students at Midlothian High School is to continue spreading what they learned.

Abdulwahab Albaadani, a teacher at Ibn Majed in Sanaa, Yemen, Amine Slimani, a teacher from the Secondary School of Nedroma in Nedroma, Algeria and his pupil, Mohamed Belmeliami, traveled to the U.S. as a culmination of nearly a year’s worth of video conferencing, cultural lessons, and web logging with social studies classes at Midlothian High School…

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