Category Archives: Global News

Academic Freedom Media Review, August 14-20

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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

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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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Citizens Medal

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President Barack Obama turns 49 today. Happy Birthday Mr. President! But the celebration at the White House that really deserves attention today is the announcement of the recipients of The Citizens Medal.

The Citizens Medal is the second highest civilian honor in our nation. For over 40 years, some of America’s most respected heroes and public figures like Muhammad Ali, Colin Powell and Bob Dole, and everyday heroes like Oseola McCarty, a washerwoman who left her entire life savings to establish a scholarship for students in need, have received this award.

This year the White House solicited nominations for the medal directly from the general public and narrowed them down to 13 recipients who have done great things in their community. See who they are and what they did here. Isn’t it wonderful to see people acknowledged for good works?

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High-Speed Rail. The US v. the World

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Check out this video. It contains so really eye-opening information about the expansion of high speed rail in the US, particularly in relation to other countries. It’s not the most exciting presentation, but the chart lays out some surprising facts.

Below is a screen capture of the chart for reference. Now let me add some context. The US has a land mass of 3,717,813 sq.miles and Japan about 145,883. In spite of that vast difference in size, the US is literally many hundreds of miles behind the US in terms of the expansion of high speed rail. The US has an inconsequential amount of high speed rail currently in operation and it looks like less than 1,000 miles planned to be in operation by 2025. Japan has approximately twice that already in operation and is still planning modest expansion.

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Academic Freedom Media Review, July 17-23

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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?
The New York Times, 7/21
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Argentina Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

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People protest same-sex marriage bill outside Argentina's Congress in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. (Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press) Read more: http://tinyurl.com/argentine-marriage

Argentina has just joined the club of nations that has legalized same-sex marriage. Yes, the nation that many stereotypically associate with overwrought machismo, and in which the Catholic Church still exerts considerable influence, has taken this radical move. It seems clear that the tide is turning, at least in the “West.” It’s turning here in the United States too, the setbacks like last year’s referendum in Maine and Prop 8 in California, or the large number of amendments to the constitutions of various states passed to protect the “sanctity of marriage” during the past 5-6 years.

I want to use this post to make a detached, rational argument why this is a good trend, based on fundamental American values about the nature of our government in relation to individual rights. It’s odd that someone with my political beliefs might make the argument on these terms, but ultimately it is a libertarian, perhaps even conservative argument. I’ll make no appeal to emotion, putting forth touching stories of nontraditional families or the devastation wrought by deeply held emotional ties are denied.

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Academic Freedom Review, July 3-9

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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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A Couple of Cartoons

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It speaks for itself:

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Using the BP Crisis for Political Gain

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The Daily Show holds them accountable again.  Did you catch this segment last night? Say something one day, contradict yourself another and, in general, the media lets them get away with it. Not the Daily Show. Yay Jon!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Day 62 – The Strife Aquatic
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

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So politicians flip-flop according to the political breeze from one day to another. No big surprise. But Joe Barton’s assertion that the administration should apologize for “shaking down” BP was only the most shocking moment in a charade during this completely absurd hearing.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, June 12-18

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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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