NYU Hosting the Latest "Academic Freedom" Conference; Break out the Violins

My Campus Watch colleague Cinnamon Stillwell posted a blog today on the proliferation of absurd, narcissistic, self-serving academic conferences on the chic topic of "academic freedom." As she shows, this is a euphemism, on the part of may academics, for "having the temerity to disagree with me."

The proliferation of dubious conferences on "academic freedom" continues unabated. And, in each case, biased and politicized Middle East studies academics are a major component.

In October, 2007, the University of Chicago hosted, "In Defense of Academic Freedom," an event whose unifying theme was "the notion that Jewish groups have degraded the quality and breadth of discussion in the media and in Washington." Hardly the stuff of self-described progressives, but such is the state of discourse in the corridors of academia today.

Then there was the "DePaul Academic Freedom Conference" earlier this month. It featured the usual suspects, all alleging "academic freedom violations" against DePaul University because "professors Mehrene Larudee and Norman Finkelstein were denied tenure." Apparently, the granting of tenure is now a God-given right and any infringements thereupon are considered grounds for martyrdom.

Next up on February 23, the College of Arts and Science (CAS) Student Council of New York University will host the "First National Teach-In on Freedoms at Risk in America." This time around, the gathering of the persecuted will include, as described at the CAS website, "our nation's foremost academics and intellectuals, and students and faculty from both within and outside of the NYU campus."

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