I didn't take Paul Sally's math class when I was an undergraduate. I wish I did; unlike most professors, Sally was clearly devoted to teaching first and foremost. A rare trait amongst academics (alas). Be sure to read this Q&A as well. The interviewer was Supriya Sinhababu, and the key passage, in my mind, is the following: …
Good for Case Western Reserve University
Its president and provost have denounced the academic boycott of Israel. I won't excerpt the statement; you should just go ahead and read the whole thing, which is brave, to the point, honest, and worthy of all academics who are genuinely interested in engaging in open, free and vigorous inquiry.
The Intellectually and Morally Bankrupt Boycott of Israeli Universities
You know that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions crowd--which is currently busy targeting academic freedom in Israel--doesn't have much of a leg to stand on when the best that they can do is cite the likes of Richard Falk for support: It appears no one told the American Studies Association that when attempting to fend off accusations …
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The Academic Boycott of Israel Is Going Nowhere
Every once in a while, academia gets it in its head to take a stand against Israel by trying to engage in an academic boycott of Israeli institutions. The fact that this kind of behavior only serves to stifle academic inquiry and freedom doesn't bother the boycotters; the only thing they are interested in is …
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Want to Read about an Actual First Amendment Violation?
Look no further than this link. Unlike the Duck Dynasty imbroglio, this case features an actual governmental actor, engaging in speech restrictions that are very likely unconstitutionally vague. The restrictions on academic freedom are, of course, outrageous; even tenured professors would end up being wary about using social media in order to publicize their work …
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Academia Is Broken
So sayeth Peter Higgs: Peter Higgs, the British physicist who gave his name to the Higgs boson, believes no university would employ him in today's academic system because he would not be considered "productive" enough. The emeritus professor at Edinburgh University, who says he has never sent an email, browsed the internet or even made a …
Because It Is a Monday, and We May Need a Humor Break . . .
I give you this. My favorite part: The third section is both incoherent and unconvincing. The long digression regarding the work of Richard Wagner is hardly appropriate; again, the author’s personal animosities are unpleasant to have to wade through. I would much rather see a return to the style of his earlier The Birth of Tragedy, …
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Pejman Yousefzadeh 