SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, April 9-15

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.
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Professor Nasser bin Ghaith of the UAE
Scholars at Risk, 4/15
12 Organizations Ask U. of Virginia to Safeguard Climate Researcher’s Academic Freedom
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/14
Hastings’ board pulls UC brand from rights meeting
Bob Egelko, The San Francisco Chronicle, 4/13
Top PEN Prize to Honor Nasrin Sotoudeh, Jailed Iranian Lawyer, Writer, Activist
PEN, 4/13
Iran: independent civil society organisations ignored over draft law on associations
Education International, 4/12
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Academic Freedom Media Review, March 26-April 1

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. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Malawi police arrest 5 university students for rioting
Afrique en Ligne, 3/31
Unusual Ruling for Academic Freedom
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 3/31
Yale and National U. of Singapore Set Plans for New Liberal-Arts College
Karin Fischer, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/31
‘Academic Freedom’ Offers Little Protection Against New Efforts to Obtain Professors’ E-Mails
Peter Schmidt and Colin Woodard, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/29
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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
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Academic Freedom Media Review, March 12-18

Here, somewhat late, is the Scholars at Risk Media Review. The delay is my fault, due to a busy weekend and Monday. I apologize.
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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Scholars at Risk calls for letters: Bahraini professor re-imprisoned
Scholars at Risk, 3/18
Tennessee Lawmaker Wants Student Protesters Punished
Quick Takes, Inside Higher Ed, 3/18
Bahrain: University students attacked as violence escalates
Education International, 3/17
Dalhousie medical school to sell Saudis 10 seats
James Bradshaw, The Globe and Mail, 3/17
Iranian university lecturer banned from teaching after publishing critical articles
Network of Education & Academic Rights, 3/16
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How to Help in Japan or Libya

Smoke billows from a fire after the massive wave destroyed houses and roads in Kisenuma city. Photo: Reuters TV

The news from Japan is overwhelming. In effect the nation is dealing with three crises, two natural disasters that have already costs thousands of lives and another potential nuclear meltdown. I am hopeful the problems at the reactors will be contained, though there has already been some leakage. Japan is already devastated. Death tolls are expected to reach 10,000 or more. That number is hard to grasp and Japan far away, but we must wrap our heads around it and step up to help. Japan has done so for the US in its times of crises.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, March 5-11, 2011

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 at here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.
Presidential duress: fears for Belarusian academic freedom
Colin Graham, Times Higher Education, 3/10
CHINA: Unrest fears prompt alert at universities
Yojana Sharma, University World News, 3/10
Virginia Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal of Climate-Papers Case
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/10
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review: 26 February – 4 March 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.
Censorship or a Mirage?
Steve Kolowich, Inside Higher Ed, 3/4
The man from Kyrgyzstan
Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 3/3
‘Suspect’ Offa letter threatens sector’s freedom
Rebecca Attwood, Times Higher Education, 3/3
Academic Freedom and the Corporate University
Bill Gleason, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/3
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Athletics and Budget Cuts

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I saw an interesting report about the costs of college sports on the PBS program Need to Know tonight. According to the report, the football coach at the University of Alabama earns 6 million a year, more than twice the salary of the nation’s highest paid college president. The Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Connecticut is the highest paid employee in the state. These are both public universities, by the way.
That, alone, is shocking. It is often argued that the sports teams bring in revenue in ticket sales and merchandise licensing, but people buy plenty of merchandise from colleges that don’t play in the big tournaments. It’s also argued the sports teams bring in exposure, but Harvard and Yale don’t field NCAA teams and they seem to have little trouble attracting students. Ultimately, if a potential student has a choice between a really prestigious school that places graduates in great jobs and and a college well known for athletics, I dare say, most would pick the college that offers the better job prospects.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

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Academic Freedom Media Review, February 19-25, 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.
YEMEN: Student protests gather strength after deaths
Ahmed Mohamoud Elmi, University World News, 2/25
Anti-Union Bill Passes Wisconsin Assembly
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/25
Saudi Intellectuals Demand Reforms
The New York Times, 2/24
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Support the Libyan Opposition Now!

Earlier today Gaddafi vowed to crush protestors. A leader with no regard for the lives of his citizens.

Muammar Gaddafi addressed his supporters in Tripoli’s Green Square today. Once again his remarks were belligerent, gruesome, and rambling. Both he and his son have indicated Gaddafi will cling to power until his last breath, no matter was the costs to Libya nor how many lives are lost. The United States and much of the world community was hesitant to withdraw its support from Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt after the popular uprisings against them began in their countries.
While I was disappointed by that hesitancy, it was at least understandable. These leaders were allies of the West and, when the demonstrations started, at least when through the motions of promising a degree of reform. Mubarak went so far as to give the end date for his Presidency, after elections in September. Western governments, unsure about what was to come and aware that these leaders had been reliable allies, were hesitant to drop them.
 
Gaddafi has certainly not offered to step down, not now nor ever. He has also not offered any hint that he would be willing to accept any sort of reforms. Though in power since 1969, all he has done so far is justify his regime by evoking the “Green Revolution,” blamed everyone but himself for what is going on and threaten mass bloodshed.
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